LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



GENERAL 

i 



Baptist History 



EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY 



D. B. MONTGOMERY, 



GENERAL BAPTIST CHURCH 



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EVANSVILLE. 

Couner Company, Book and Job Printers, 

1882. 




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THE LIBRARY 
ar CONGRESS 

WASHINGTON 



PREFACE. 



The following historical lines styled "General Baptists in 
England and Europe. 1 ' are a part only of a series of lectures 
on Church History delivered in the Clayville Church of Gen- 
eral Baptists in the Summer of 1876, in reply to a series of 
centennial sermons by the United Baptists, a short time 
previous. 

These lectures were so hastily gotten up, only a few days 
beinsr allowed in their preparation, that they necessarily 
contain inaccuracies and imperfections in grammar, dic- 
tion, etc. 

It was the intention to carefully re-write and re-arrange 
the whole of them and include with them enough additional 
matter, so as to give a sufficiently full and replete history of 
all Baptist denominations, particularly liberal Baptists. 

This was undertaken at the request of the General Asso- 
ciation of the General Baptists of America in the Fall 
of 1876. 

A sufficient historical library was procured for this pur- 
pose, the notes all taken and the work out-lined; but in the 
midst of this work I was taken with hemorrage of the 
lungs, which forbade that I should persist further in the 
prosecution of this work, hence it was abandoned for the 
time being. 

I am glad to say that an abler pen than mine has under- 
taken this duty and as a result of his labors in this direc- 
tion, we have this little volume of Baptist history. 



It, as a whole is somewhat disjointed and evidently con- 
tains imperfections, but dear reader, whoever you may be or 
whether you read its pages in search of Baptist truths, or 
simply as a critic, or as a confiding General Baptist, you 
are kindly asked to remember that it is the first effort of the 
author, Rev. D. B. Montgomery. 

Indeed that part of the work written by him is in fact 
the first history of the liberal or open Communion Bap- 
tists, located in the South and West of the American States. 

It is a pioneer work with but little data from which to 
write a history of these Baptists, therefore we lay tribute 
upon the liberality and indulgence of the reader. 

It was against my judgment, that that part of it written 
by myself, should go to press in its present style as a lec- 
ture to a public audience, but the author ruled differently 
and I have consented. 

It will but blaze the path for a new addition, or open up 
the way for an entirely new work which will be given to 
the reading public at no distant future. 

Fraternally, 

JEFF. HOLEMAN. 



INDEX. 



PAGES 

Ana-Baptists 14 — 15 

Atonement General 30 

Authors consulted 109 — 10 

An offending Brother 254 

An Academy 261 

An Association in Arkansas 362 — 64 

A Denominational Paper 393 — 98 

B 

Baptists Early Divided 11 

Baptists, General and Particular - 11 

Rrownist 15—22 

Baptists, General and Particular in England 22 — 3 

Badtism. 28—9 

Baptists Return to England . 55 — 7 

Baptism of Infants opposed 75 

Baptists for Soul Liberty 78 

Baptists all of the General persuasion previous to 

1633 101—7 

Baptists, Free Communion, decendants from the old 

General Baptists 122—30 

Baptists, Free-Will, Treatise of Faith 226-7 

Biographies of the Living 247 — 48 

Baptists Union . 272—3 

Bethany Association 362 



Communion 11 

Confession of 1611 48—55 

Confession of 1660 78—82 

Communion 89 — 97 

Communion 114 

Communion 121 — 2 

Confession of Faith of General Baptists in the 

West 211—13 

Communion 215 — 16 

College 225—6 

College Name 226—7 

Cavanah George P , 236 — 47 

Christian Conference. 250 — 51 

Correspondence 258—60 

Convention of Liberal Baptists 267—72 

Correspondence, large , 267 — 8 

Cumberland Association weak 308 

Cumberland Association 316 — 17 

Central Illinois Association. 348 — 9 

D 

Division in the Church 9 — 10 

Different Names 10 

Dissenters 24 — 5 

Dissenters favored 82 

Dunn Berry T 203 

Division of Liberty Association 228 — 9 

Deacons Duties . . '. 230 

Death of three Ministers 272 

E 

Ensle J. G 276—9 

Educational Interest 404 — 8 

F 

Fuller Thomas 206—9 

Family Worship 235 

Fidelity to the Church 251—2 

Free- Will Baptists in Tennessee 274 

Flat Creek Association 359 — 61 



VI 



General Baptist Books 58 — 62 

General Baptist Books 65 — 6 

General Baptist Books 74 

General Baptist Growth 75 

General Baptist Statistics in England in 1689 82 

General Baptists decline 83 

General Baptists, New Connection 84 — 88 

General Baptist Church 26 years older than the Par- 
ticular Baptistr 98—100 

General Baptists in the United States 109—10 

General Baptists in Maryland, South and North Caro- 
lina and Virginia 13 ft — 47 

General Baptists in North Carolina by Elder Hearn.148 — 78 

General Baptists in the West 179 

General Baptist History 230, 400—1 

General Association 253 

General Baptist Banner 262 

General Baptists number five Associations 161 — 2 

General Association 278 — 02 

H 

Holeman's Lecture 9 

Hume Elder Joel, life 192—98 

Help Wanted, Kentucky 254 

Hancock Esma 290 — 

Holeman Jacob 291 — 2 

Henry I. H 301—5 

Hymn Books 398—400 

Holeman's History 402 — 3 

Home Missions 403 — 4 



Iglehart J. H 

K 



Knight's Account of Early Baptist Churches in 

America 115 — 20 



Laying on ef Hands *. . . 88 — 9 

Laying on of Hands 113 

Lane Jesse, sr 200—2 

Liberty Association Organized • • • 209 — 1 1 



VII 

Liberty Association moves South, East and West . . . 234 — 5 

Letter of Dismission 235 

Little Bethel Associatian of United Baptists 306 

Liberty Association, Missouri 346 — 8 

Little Vine Association 371 — 72 

M 

Minutes transcribed 252 

Members dismissed 260 

Members received 261 

Missions 274 — 5 

McAndrew Geo. W 289—90 

Ministers of Union Association 310 — 13 

Millikan Win 338 

Missouri Association 352 — 56 

Mt. Union Association 368 — 70 

Mt. Glivet Association 359 — 61 

N 
New Liberty Association 372—77 

O 
Ohio Association 336—9 

P 

Persecution 66 — 74 

Parker Alvah 204—6 

Polk A. H ; 225 

Polk A. H., Missionary 263—5 

R 

Reavis Wm 231—4 

Rhodes Solomon v 345 — 6 

Reavis' life of Benoni Stinson 401—2 

S 

Succession 12 — 13 

Smith examined Scriptures . . 26 — 7 

Smith written against 31 — 2 

Smith defends his Principles . 34 — 5 

Smith and his (Thurch vindicated 37 — 42 

Succession in Baptism 46 — 8 

Statues_ of Gold 62—5 

Succession Principles 107 



VIII 

Summing- up 107 — 8 

Stinson Benoni moves to Indiana; a Delegate to 
Wabash District Association^ joins Liberty 
Church; Organized Liberty Association and 
adopted the name General Baptists; Debates 

with strong Men 180—92 

Stinson Benoni, death ' 199 

Speer Elder Jacob 218—23 

Strain Elder T. M . . .248—50 

Sabbath Schools-* 253 

Stinson John B 255 

State of the Country 265 

School at Oakland 266 

Superanuated fund 279 — 80 

Speer Elder Jacob, retired 280 

Statistics 282—4 

Stmson and Polk in Kentucky 306 

Statistics of Union Association 314 — 15 

Southern Illinois Association -^ 317 — 35 

Social Band Association . 364 — 67 

U 

Union Association • ( 285 

United Association 339—44 

Union Grove Association ■ 350 — 52 



CHAPTER I. 



GENERAL BAPTISTS IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 



BY JEFF. HOLEMAM, M. D. 



The vicissitudes or changes, and the countless per- 
secutions through which the peculiar denomination 
of people termed Baptists have passed, and the false 
reproaches heaped upon them, only need to be hinted 
at in order to refresh the memory of those familiar 
with ecclesiastical history. 

Parties and sects were unknown in the earliest his- 
tory of the Christian church. All parties who en- 
couraged a division of the church stand rebuked by 
the Holy Scriptures. In the earliest history of the 



10 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

Christian church its members were known only by 
the name of Christians — followers of Christ. 

But in later periods divisions sprung up in the 
church, which were prompted by ambitious leaders 
and differences upon doctrinal points. The various 
circumstances gave birth to many sects or denomina- 
tions. Some assumed the name of their leaders; 
others, again, were named from some peculiar fea- 
ture of doctrine they earnestly advocated. Bloody 
persecution and war was the legitimate result of these 
► divisions. Those of the true faith, who seem to 
have been in the minority, were largely persecuted 
by the majority, who had departed from the teaching 
of the Apostles. By the force of existing circum- 
stances the true followers of Christ and the Apostles, 
in the vicissitudes through which the church was 
forced to travel by persecution and war, assumed dif- 
ferent names at various times and in different places. 
Hence, the name of Christians, first; then (171) 
Montanists; then (251) Novationists ; then, in the 
fourth century, the Danatists; then (653) the Paulicians 
and then the Waldenses; and finally, in 1543, the 
Mennonites. These people, by the revolution of time 
and surrounding influences, seem to have undergone 
a change of faith and practice in their respective bod- 
ies. Many points of doctrine occupied by these 
people in the beginning of their denominational life, 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 11 

among which was the mode of baptism and the ques- 
tion of communion, were abandoned by them in 
later days. When the ancient mode of baptism by 
immersion was revived in England, which seems to 
have fallen into disuse, for some time, at least, as it 
was practiced upon the adult and the responsible, 
those who revived the ancient mode were called Bap- 
tists. The Christian world, about this time, was 
divided upon the question of election and foreordi- 
nation. One class, with John Calvin as their leader, 
held that only the elect could be saved ; while an- 
other, with James Arminius at its head, held that it 
was possible for all men to b ■ saved. 

Upon this question the Baptists were early divided. 
Those who believed in a general atonement were 
called General Baptists, while those who believed in 
a particular atonement were called Particular Bap- 
tists. These two denominations of Baptists in Eng- 
land are still known by these names. Both practice 
baptism by immersion upon the believer. 

The General Baptist church was organized in 1611 
— the Particular Baptist church in 1633. At the or- 
ganization of these denominations close communion 
was the prevailing rule among the various denomina- 
tions. Open communion was the natural outgrowth 
of the General Baptists, as now practiced by all their 
churches, both in England and America. The Par- 



12 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

ticular Baptists in England have grown very liberal 
upon this question, and many — perhaps a majority — 
of their churches practice open communion. 

We will now, without further notice of the above 
sects or dissenters, proceed to briefly trace the history 
of the General Baptist denominations in Europe. 

"The true origin of that sect which acquired the 
denomination of Ana-Baptists * * * is hidden 
in the depths of antiquity, and is, of consequence, 
difficult to be ascertained." 

The Baptists give this as a proof of their succession 
from these Ana-Baptists. They tell us that Baptists and 
Ana-Baptists are synonymous terms, and that as a 
denomination, or rather as the true church of God, 
that they are exclusively entitled to the name "Bap- 
tist," while other kinds of Baptists, in order to dis- 
tinguish themselves from this great body of Baptists, 
must employ some of the prefixes, such as General, 
Separate, etc. 

Now, if these Close or United Baptists, if they 
have a succession extending back, it is through the 
Particular Baptists, of England, who originated in 
1633, from the church of Independents, under the 
pastoral care of Henry Jacobs, which grew, in a 
short time, into seven churches, and met in the City 
of London, in 1643, and there formed a confession 
of faith, and in a preface to the same, declared it 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 13 

was "A confession of faith of seven congregations 
or churches of Christ, in London, which are com- 
monly, but unjustly called Ana-Baptists." See Cros- 
by's History of Baptists, vol. 1, appendix page 1 ; 
also page 89 \ Baptist Succession, by D. B. Ray, 
page 188. From this declaration of these Particular 
Baptists in the preface of this, their first confession 
of faith, which I have just read, you see for your- 
selves these Baptists most positively asserted that they 
were not Ana-Baptists. I am very much inclined to 
leave it with them, rather than these men of the suc- 
cession order. We have thus far spoken of the Ana- 
Baptists and Mennonites as one people. In this we 
have followed most writers, as we did not wish to go 
into details. "The Mennonites," says Mr. Bene- 
dict, "in the Old World, for ages past, have, as a 
general thing, administered baptism by pouring, and 
laying on of hands ; and the same that is true of 
them in the Old World is true in this country, both 
of the old and the new connection." See Milner's 
Religious Denominations of the World, page 162. I 
mention this fact as a proof against the idea that all 
of these Ana-Baptists and Mennonites were genuine 
Baptists and will now for further proof of my position, 
read from Mr. Benedict's History of Baptists, page 
930, which is as follows : ' ' Baptists and Ana-Bap- 
tists, from time immemorial, have been, by most 



14 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

writers, regarded as synonymous and convertible 
terms. 

This, though generally true, is not necessarily so. 
Pedo-Baptists, as well as Baptists, may come under 
this head. If they re-baptize their subjects, for what- 
ever cause, whether infants or adult,?, whether by dip- 
ping or by other modes, they become^ facto, Ana-Bap- 
tists, according to the true and proper meaning of the 
word. The Ana-Baptists in Germany were, no 
doubt, generally baptistically inclined, and a good 
portion of them were of the genuine Baptist order ; 
but the term "Ana-Baptist," there, as in England, 
in the time of the Commonwealth, was very loosely 
applied to a promiscous multitude who differed widely 
from each other. All, however, dissented from the 
established religion, and were the advocates for free- 
dom, civil and religious. Infant baptisim they gen- 
erally condemn. Some of them, however, continued 
in the practice after the name "Ana-Baptist" was 
applied to them ; and as to the mode of baptism, it 
is certain that the Ana-Baptists were not all dippers, 
as the following quotations will show : ' ' The first 
recorded instance of re-baptism took place at Zwic- 
kan, near Zurich, in 1525, and then says the person 
in whose house the ceremony was performed, they 
were all baptized with a dipper. Another re-baptism 
took place in Grebel's house. Hubmeyer, on the 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 15 

occasion of re-baptising in his church at Waldshut, 
directed water to be brought in a milk pail and bap- 
tized about three hundred." 

While they were generally Baptists, and uni- 
versally re-baptized all coming from one sect to 
another j yet many of them were Pedo-Baptists, 
and baptized by pouring and sprinkling. 

They were 'divided into innumerable sects, and 
had every shade of religious belief, and almost 
each party among them, like our United Baptist 
friends, claimed that they (for certain reasons which 
they claimed were supported by the Holy Bible) were 
the only true church of God. So you see, if our 
United friends came through these people by succes- 
sion, as their legitimate successors, their communion 
and baptism (according to their definition)* cannot be 
pure. 

We will now speak of the Baptists, both General 

and Particular — their rise and progress, and in order 
to give you an idea of their true origin, we will neces- 
sarily have to give a short history of the Brownists 
and Independents, with whose history the origin of 
Baptists is interwoven. 

BROWNISTS. 

The English Baptists, both General and Particular, 
were the legitimate descendents or successors of these 
Brownists, who originated in the reformation under 



16 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

Robt. Brown, who established their first church in 
1581, in Norwich, England. See Mosheim's Eccle- 
siastical History, vol. Ill, page 181. 

Milner's Denominations of the World, pages 185 
207 says : 

'"Robt. Brown became prominent among those 
who, in 1677, resisted the attempts of Queen Eliza- 
beth, of England, to suppress, by forcible measures, 
the doctrines and assemblies of the Puritans. He 
contended that each church or society of Christians, 
meeting in a single place, was a body corporate, 
possessing full power within itself, to admit or ex- 
clude members, to choose and ordain officers, and 
also depose them without being in any respect re- 
sponsible to synods, councils, or any other ecclesiasti- 
cal authority* He denied the supremacy of the Queen 
in religious and ecclesiastical matters, he refused to 
admit that the established Church of England was a 
Scriptural church, and asserted that the Scriptures 
were the only authoritative guide in matters of faith 
and discipline." Milner's Denominations of the 
World, page 184. 

"The freedom and self-government of the local 
church were developed and reduced to practice by 
Robt. Brown, in 1596." 

Those who adopted his views were at first called 
"Brownists." 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 17 

Orchard's History of Baptists, vol. 2, page 232, 
says : "In 1583, a numerous congregation of Dutch 
Ana-Baptists was known to exist at Norwich. From 
among these persons Robert Brown selected a few to 
begin a new interest of Independents." He wielded 
a great influence. Milner's Denominations of the 
World, page 185, says: "In 1602, a second society 
of Independents or Congregationalists was formed in 
the north of England, of whom John Robinson was 
the pastor. Mr, Clifton became co-pastor with John 
Robinson in this church." 

"John Smith, a beneficed clergyman at Gainsbor- 
ough, and who is said to have been M. A., spent 
nine months in investigating the controversies on cer- 
emonies. Being convinced of their unscriptural 
character, he withdrew from the establishment." 

Orchard's History of Baptists, vol. 2, page 237, 
",On leaving that church he became a minister 
among the Brownists, who esteemed him so highly 
that Bishop Hall called him their oracle in general." 
Cramp's History of Baptists, page 286. 

Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, page 265, 
"John Smith, of whom mention is made in 
the foregoing history, was a divine of the Church of 
England, and did, in the former part of the reign of 
King James I., embrace the opinions of the Bap- 
tists." (Brownists.) See Benedict's History of Bap- 



18 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

tists, page 327. Taylor's History of General Baptists, 
page 66. Wood's History of General Baptists, page 
103. 

These Brownists, called, by some, Separatists or 
Nonconformists, became very popular and numerous, 
and were looked upon by the Queen of England and 
the established church with great jealousy and fear. 
Crosby's History of Baptists, page 79, says : "But to 
close the reign of Queen Elizabeth, having by her 
proclamation commanded all Ana-Baptists and other 
heretics to depart the land, whether they were natives 
or foreigners, under the penalty of imprisonment or 
loss of life, all that were of this opinion were obliged 
either to conceal their principles or fly into some 
other country, where they might enjoy the liberty of 
their religion; upon which many of the dissenters 
went over to Holland ; Ihiong whom were not a few 
Baptists, as well as English and Dutch, so that there 
was now no great number of dissenters that dared 
openly to appear." 

Wood's History of General Baptists, page 101, says: 
''The number of Baptists still increasing, a proclama- 
tion was issued in 1600 by which all Ana-Baptists 
and other heretics were ordered to leave the king- 
dom." "All these dissenters or non-conformists were 
called Puritans. For those who refused to conform 
to the Church of England were counted among the 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 19 

Puritans." Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, 
page 82. 

In speaking of the results of the opinions of these 
Brownists, Milner's Denominations of the World, 
page 185, says: "As might have been naturally ex- 
pected in such an age and among such a community 
as England was, the announcement of such opfnions 
soon led to persecutions. Brown was hooted in the 
streets, pelted with stones, and became the victim of 
general obloquy. Nevertheless, he persisted in his 
course * * * until at last the condition of the 
Puritans became intolerable. They resolved to es- 
cape, and fled into Holland." Here, Robt. Brown, 
in the City of Amsterdam, established, or rather 
re-established his church, called Brownists. But he 
subsequently turned traitor, left his church, returned 
to England and rejoined the established Church of 
England. See Benedict's history. The emigra- 
tion of these so-called Puritans became very gen- 
eral into Holland; so much so that John Smith, 
John Robinson and Cliftons retired thither. 

Orchard, vol. 2, page 237, says: " The harrassing 
conduct of the high court compelled Mr. Smith, with 
Mr. Robinson and Mr. Clifton, to remove into Hol- 
land. These good men united with a (English) 
church at Amsterdam, with Robert Brown, and of 
which Johnson was pastor and Ainsworth teacher." 



20 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

Taylor's History of General Baptists, page QQ, says: 
"But being grievously harrassed by the high com- 
missioned court, and seeing no prospect of redress 
from the new monarch, Mr. Smith and his church, 
and Messrs Robinson and Clifton, who were co-pas- 
tors of a neighboring church, with their congregation 
determined to leave the kingdom and seek liberty of 
conscience in a foreign country. They arrived in 
Holland in 1606, and all joined Ainsworth's society, 
which received such an addition with peculiar satis- 
faction." (See Cramp's History of Baptists, page 
286; Benedict's History of Baptists, page 328; Cros- 
by's History of Baptists, page 91 ; Wood's History of 
General Baptists, page 103; Night's History of Gen- 
eral Baptists, page 24.) 

This church, thus formed, soon became a great ec- 
clesiastical power, and some historians claim that it 
stood for at least a hundred years, notwithstanding 
dissension shortly sprung up among them, as we shall 
shortly see in our investigation. A majority of those 
who went into this church organization were Calvin- 
istic Pedo- Baptists, while no doubt the most of the 
others were, in faith, what the General Baptists, both 
in Europe and America, are to-day. 

Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, page 91, says 
of John Smith: "But when his search after truth 
and resolution to reform religion according to the 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 21 

primitive constitution and practice, had led him to 
entertain some principles different from his brethren, 
particularly that of baptizing believers only, they set 
themselves to violently oppose him; they cast him out 
of the church, representing him as one that had pro- 
claimed open war against God's everlasting covenant, 
and that would murder the souls of babes and 
sucklings by depriving them of the visible seal of salva- 
tion. They published several books wherein they 
endeavored to expose him and his principles to the 
world." 

The principal causes which led Mr. Smith and his 
followers to separate themselves from this church of 
Brownists are mostly given by Mr. Orchard, in vol. 
2, page 237: "Mr. Smith knew that Brown and his 
associates denied the Church of England to be a 
true church of Christ, and that her ministers' ordina- 
tions were not valid ; yet these same people allowed 
the baptism of the Church of England. This course 
of proceeding, by Brown and his community, in dis- 
tinguishing acts done by persons unscripturally situa- 
ted, led Mr. Smith to express his surprise and to in- 
quire into the origin of these rites, which terminated 
in Mr. Smith'srenouncing infant baptism. On being 
thus decided for believers' immersion, Mr. Smith, 
with his brethren who were of the same opinion in 
religion with him, settled in Ley, Holland." Thus 



22 GERMAN BAPTISTS 

Mr. Smith and his followers became true Baptists, in 
the true sense of the term, believing that faith and 
repentance must precede baptism. 

ENGLISH BAPTISTS — GENERAL AND PARTICULAR. 

We will now take up the history of the Baptists of 
England. Unfortunately, they are divided into dif- 
ferent denominations— General and Particular — 
" which differ," says Mr. Benedict, " from each other 
mainly in their doctrinal sentiments; the Generals 
being Arminians, and the others Calvinists. In their 
discipline, their association, their terms of communion 
and indeed, in all matters, they arealike. See Cros- 
by, vol. 1, page 173. 

u There have been two parties of the English Bap- 
tists in England, ever since the beginning of the re- 
formation ; those that have followed the Calvinistical 
scheme or doctrines, and from the principal point 
therein, personal election, have been termed Particu- 
lar Baptists ; and those that have professed the Ar- 
minian or remonstrant tenets; and have, also, from 
the chief of those doctrines, universal redemption , been 
called "General Baptists." Again, says Crosby: 

' ' The English Baptists, though they are unhappi- 
ly disunited and distinguished by the title of Gener- 
als and Particulars, yet it is the only point I know of 
wherein they differ from the primitive churches." 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 23 

All true Baptists, certainly, regret the division 
among us. 

Not only in England are the Baptists divided on 
the question of "Election and Reprobation," but 
wherever they exist we find them differing on 
this question. In America, we shall find them di- 
vided into two principal families, and differing, not 
only on the question of election, but also, unhappily, 
on the " Communion" question. 

Wishing to follow the English Baptists in their rise 
and progress, in order to give the chronological his- 
tory, we will necessarily have to give, first, the his- 
tory of the 

GENERAL BAPTISTS. 

The history of this denomination will, no doubt, 
be more interesting to the larger part of our readers 
than the previous part of our subject. It, indeed, 
should be of thrilling interest to all General Baptists. 
We have already seen, when investigating* the history 
of the Brownists, that John Smith, who organized 
the General Baptist Church in Amsterdam, Holland, 
after leaving the established church of England, fig- 
ured very prominently among these Brownists. Says 
Mr. Cramp, page 268 : 

" John Smith had been a clergyman of the Church 
of England, and held the living of Gainsborough^ 



24 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

Lincolnshire. On leaving that chinch he became a 
minister among the Brownists, who esteemed him so 
highly that Bishop Hall calls him their "oracle in gen- 
eral." After a toilsome and perilous service of about 
fifteen years, during which time he and his friends 
suffered much from Elizabeth's tyrany, it was deem- 
ed necessary to abandon the field in order to preserve 
life and liberty." In the year 1605, he joined a 
party of emigrants to settle in Amsterdam. All dis- 
senters were commanded by Elizabeth to "depart 
the land." Says Mr. Crosby, vol. 1, page 79: 

" Queen Elizabeth, having by her proclamation 
commanded all Ana-Baptists and other heretics to de- 
part the land, whether they were natives or foreign- 
ers, under the penalty of imprisonment or loss of 
goods. All that were of this opinion were obliged 
to conceal their principles or fly into some other 
country, where they might enjoy the liberty of their 
religion. Upon which many of the dissenters went 
over to Holland. Among, whom, there were not a 
few Baptists, as well as English and Dutch, so that 
there was now no great number of any denomination 
that dared openly appear/' We have already seen 
that previous to the departure of these dissenters, 
the Brownists were numerous in England. 

"The laws were executed with great severity on 
the Brownists. Their books were prohibited by 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 25 

Queen Elizabeth, their persons imprisioned, and 
some hanged. They were so much persecuted that 
they at last resolved to quit the country. Accord- 
ingly many retired and settled at Amsterdam where 
they formed a church and chose Johnson their pas- 
tor, and after him, Ainsworth. Their church flour- 
ished near a hundred years." Milner's Regular De- 
nomination, page 205. 

Says Taylor's History of General Baptists, vol. 1, 
page 65 : 

"Here they flourished sometime in peace, and 
were joined by many of their countrymen, who left 
England to preserve a good concience." 

This church was joined by Smith, as we shall now 
see, by some of the most renowned divines of that 
age. 

Says Night's History of General Baptists, page 24 : 
"But being grievously persecuted and harrassedby 
the court, and seeing no prospect of redress, he 
(Smith) and his church, Messrs. Robinson and Clif- 
ton, co-pastors of a .neighboring church, (Brownists) 
with their congregation, determined to leave the 
Kingdom and seek liberty of conscience in a foreign 
country. They arrived in Holland in 1606, and all 
joined Mr. Ains worth's society, who received such 



26 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

an addition with peculiar satisfaction." See Orch- 
ard's History of Baptists, vol. 2, page 137. 

Cramp's History of the Baptists, page 286, says : 

"He had left the Church of England, for the 
Brownists, and now more mature reflection led him 
to take another step." 

Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 1, 
pages 67-8, says : 

" Mr. Smith being now at leisure to consult the 
scriptures, and in a country where he might pursue 
his inquiries and divulge the result without danger, 
proceeded with redoubled zeal in the search of truth. 
He soon found reason to dispose of the practice of 
his associates in various points relating to the wor- 
ship and discipline of a church of Christ, and avowed 
his disbelief of the doctrine of personal election and 
reprobation." 

This statement is corroborated by Crosby, vol. 1, 
page 267. After speaking of the persecutions of 
these people, (General Baptists) he, with Mr. Smith, 
says : 

" But it is to be observed, that at the same time 
they accuse him after this manner, they are forced 
to acknowledge that he was more refined than the 
common sorts of Ana-Baptists, and that he did not 
go with that heretical sect. Nay, more, that he had 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 27 

such a dislike and aversion to their gross errors, 
that his conscience would not permit him to be re- 
baptised by any of them. * * * * 
The English refugees were such as in his opinion, 
had no true baptism, having only been sprinkled in 
their infancy; and the foreign Ana-Baptists were 
such as denied Christ having taken flesh of the Vir- 
gin Mary the lawfulness of magistracy and the like, 
which he and his followers looked upon as very great 
errors. So that neither the one nor the other could 
be thought by him to be proper administration of 
baptism."' 

Says Orchard's History of Baptists, vol. 1, page 
374: 

1 'His Armenian views might have prevented his unit- 
ing with the Mennonites." But we think in this he 
was mistaken, and that we have already seen the rea- 
son why Smith and his converts did not unite with 
the Ana-Baptists and Mennonites, from Messrs. Tay- 
lor and Crosby. 

The founders of the General Baptist denomination 
repudiated all the limitarian views of the Calvinists, 
and held, on the contrary, that the compassionate love 
of God embraced not only those who should be ulti- 
mately saved, but extended to all mankind, that when 
Jesus suffered the just for the unjust, He died not 
for a chosen number onlv — not for those onlv who 



28 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

should be saved, but for all the world and every 
dweller in it ; and that those who shall perish for 
for rejecting the gospel, shall not perish because 
there was no provision made for their salva- 
tion, but solely because they refused to 'accept salva- 
vation as God's free gift in Jesus. "That the Divine 
election is not to faith, but through faith." And the 
only proper mode of baptism was by immersion." 
That he only who ' ' endures to the end shall be 
saved." These are some of the vital truths which 
were held by the founders of the General Baptists and 
the importance of which, in their judgment, justified 
them in laboring apart from the various denominations 
we have named. They were, therefore, reduced to 
the painful alternative either of renouncing what 
they believed to be important truths of Christianity, 
or of gathering churches in which they should be free 
to proclaim and to teach all these truths," " And 
dare we censure them for the course they pursued in 
adding another sect to the number which, unhappily, 
already existed ? " We have already seen that Mr. 
Smith's opinions prevailed greatly, especially that of 
denying infant baptism ; and he soon had proselytes 
enough to form a distinct church of that persuasion, 
even among the English exiles." Crosby, vol. 1, 
page 94. 

In the organization of this church they adopted 
the only expedient under such circumstances. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 29 

' * It is most probable that those who were convinc- 
ed of believer's baptism, first formed themselves into 
a church, and then appointed two of their number 
(perhaps Mr. Smith and Mr. Helwisse) to baptize the 
rest." Taylor's History of the General Baptists, 
page 71. 

" This appears to have been the first Baptist church 
composed of Englishmen, after the reformation. It 
was formed about 1607 or 1608, about twenty years 
prior to the church under the care of Spilsbury." 
This was called a General Baptist church. It was 
constituted on the basis of religious liberty. It pos- 
sessed the simplicity of a " New Testament " church, 
a society of equals, voluntarily associated to promote 
the glory of the Great Head of the church, by at- 
tending to His ordinances and worship, and to ad- 
vance the good of mankind by supporting and ex- 
tending his kingdom among men. See Taylor's His- 
tory of the General Baptists, vol. 1, page 75. 

" Many suppose we are called General Baptists 
because we receive Pedo-Baptists to commune with 
us in the supper of our Lord, but this is a mistake." 
It is true, that the General Baptists, both in Eu- 
rope and America, including the Free Wills, are free 
communion, but this did not give origin to the name 
General Baptist. They rejected infant baptism as 
unscripturalj and required repentance and faith upon 



30 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

the part of the subject previous to baptism," and did 
not admit of the term, " mode of baptism." Hence, 
in their opinion ' 'Baptism could only be administered 
to the believing adult — by being buried, with Christ, 
in Baptism." They therefore rejected the term 
1 ' Ana-Baptism, " and the Ana-Baptists. They did not, 
like many of those who were properly called "Ana- 
Baptists," baptize all who come into their commu- 
nion, who have previously received " believer's bap- 
tism," but baptize such only as have not received 
believer's baptism. They, also, like the first Partic- 
ular Baptists, denied any affiliation with the Ana- 
Baptists. The term "General" was employed to 
denote that the founders of our denomination dis- 
sented from the views which were entertained by the 
Calvinists respecting election, atonement, effectual 
calling, and other kindred topics, and that Jesus 
Christ, by his death, procured salvation for univer- 
sal man. Hence, we were called, and very appro- 
priately, ' ' General Baptists. " Notwithstanding thei r 
repeated denials that they were not Ana-Baptists, 
they were generally called by that name, and some- 
times by the name of " Anti-Pedo-Baptists." And 
in tracing their history, we find these terms used b y 
most historians. 

Says Crosby, vol. 1, pages, 90-91, in speaking o 
the churches which the dissenters set up in Holland 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 31 

under Robinson, Ainsworth, Johnson and John 
Smith : 

"The latter of which went under the name of 
Ana-Baptists ; so that to do justice to the history, we 
must now follow them into those parts, but I shall 
confine myself to the English only." Mr. Smith was 
accused by the other Puritans and Dissenters, and 
Calvinistic Pedo-Baptists, like many of our United 
Baptists now accuse us of setting up a new baptism, 
but he ably defended this reviving of immersion, 
and indeed, this expedient was afterward very ably- 
defended by many of the founders of the United 
Baptist church — "Particular Baptist church, as be- 
ing Scriptural." Says Crosby: "they wrote several 
books wherein they endeavored to expose him and 
his principles to the world." "Thomas Wall calls 
him the beginner of baptism by dipping, and the 
captain of this and other errors, &c." Crosby, vol 1, 
page 95. 

As we have before stated, Ainsworth, Johnson, 
Clifton, Robinson and Jessop all took up the pen 
against Smith and his church, and their " Ana-Bap- 
tistic errors." One of the books written against him, 
1 ' A Discovery of the Errors of the English Ana- 
Baptists," was presented to King James, and says 
Crosby, vol. 1, page 92, "It is easy to guess with 
what design that was done." It was to suppress, if 



32 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

possible,' their opinion against the idea of succession 
of baptism in order to valid baptism ; for they thought 
if this could be done Pedo-Baptism would be perpetu- 
ated in the churches, and immersion would cease. 
As an example of their hatred and opposition to 
Smith and the reviving of immersion by him and his 
followers, Thomas Wall says: "If you can find no 
better administrator, your ministry will be found to 
come out of the bottomless pit, as Rome's ministry 
did. Crosby, vol. 1, page 97: "In like manner did 
they now argue against the reviving of the practice 
of immersion." And again, on page 104: "Some 
make it such an error, and so far from any rule or 
example for a man to baptize others, who is himself 
unbaptized, and so think thereby to shut up the ordi- 
nances of God in such a strain that none can come 
by it, but through the authority of the Popedom of 
Rome." This was the language of Mr. Spilsbury, 
pastor of the first Particular Baptist church. It 
certainly had its influence. I will repeat, there- 
fore, some more of his language: "I fear men put 
more than is of a right due to it — that so prefer 
it above the church and all other ordinances besides; 
for they can assume and erect a church, take in and 
cast out members, elect and ordain officers, and ad- 
minister the Supper, and all anew without looking after 
succession any further than the Scriptures. But as 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 33 

for baptism, they must have that successively from 
the Apostles, though it comes through the hands of 
Pope Joan. What is the cause of this, that men can 
do all from the word but only baptism ?" This was 
the key note for those times, and should be well 
heeded by those who make so much to do about a 
legal administrator of baptism and "proper succes- 
sion of baptism." 

But to return to Mr. Smith and his opinions. We 
have already seen that these dissenters who oppressed 
the General Baptists, held to succession of ordina- 
tion to be necessary in order to its validity. 

Says Orchard, vol. 2, page 237 : " Mr. Smith knew 
that Brown and his associates denied the Church of 
England to be a true church of Christ, and that her 
ministers' ordinations were not valid ; yet these same 
people allowed the baptism of the Church of Eng- 
land." 

So when they accused Smith of setting up anew 
the ordinance of baptism, he responds to these accu- 
sations, while in Holland, in a work entitled, " The 
Character of the Beast." Says he (Orchard, vol. 2, 
page 248): "The Ana-Baptists, as you call them, do 
not set up a new covenant and gospel, though they 
set up anew the apostolic baptism, which anti-Christ 
had overthrown; and whereas, you say they have 
no warrant to baptize themselves, I say, as much as 



34 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

you have to set up a new church; yea, fully as 
much." His arguments were strong and told on his 
enemies, and his influence grew rapidly. 

Says Crosby, vol. 1, page 98: "Mr. Smith is jus- 
tifying to the Brownists his authority to begin a new 
form of baptizing, from the same principle by which 
they justified their beginning new churches. * * * 
There is as good warrant for a man churching him- 
self; for two men singly are no church jointly. They 
are a church so two men may put baptism on them- 
selves." As I before stated, his opinion and others, 
supported as they are from the Bible, gained for 
them many disciples. Says Crosby, vol. 1, page 95 : 
" Mr. Smith and his disciples do, as it were, swallow 
up all the separation besides." Also, Taylor's 
History of General Baptists, vol 1, page 71: "Mr. 
Smith appears to have labored with diligence and 
success. His followers increased so rapidly as to 
alarm the Pedo-Baptists." 

We will now proceed with the history of this 
church of General Baptists, and will necessarily have 
to state occasionally to answer the charges made 
against them by those who assert that Smith and his 
followers were unauthorized in reviving immersion, 
and that they were by this reason unbaptized. 

These good people, after being persecuted, mis- 
represented and traduced to the World as Atheists, 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 35 

by their enemies, who were extravagant in their 
charges against them — "To vindicate themselves 
from these aspersions," says Taylor's History of Gen- 
eral Baptists, vol. 1, page 86, -'the Baptists pub- 
lished in 1611, a confession of faith, accompanied with 
an appendix giving some account of Mr. Smith's last 
illness and death. It was called ' 'The Confession of 
Faith," published in certain conclusions by the re- 
mainder of Mr. Smith's company, and was supposed 
to have been chiefly drawn up by Mr. Smith him- 
self." See also Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, 
page 271. 

This, doubtless, was the confession adopted by 
these people at the organization of their church, and 
the one by which they were governed in their church 
and in their deliberations, not, however, as a creed 
that proposed to fix the opinions and liberty of the 
members, but as a declaration of principles over 
which they themselves had had absolute control or 
supremacy. It can be found in full in Crosby's His- 
tory of Baptists, vol. 2, appendix page 1. It resem- 
embles very much the confession adopted by the 
General Baptists in the United States. 

I will hereafter speak of some of its doctrinal fea- 
tures. The most of the objections made against this 
church and its members by our United Baptist breth- 
ren, who plead for succession, are to be found in 
Ray's Succession, pp. 78 lo 84, inclusive. 



36 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

I will now notice some of these statements and will 
take the privilege of condensing them still more, so 
as to be as brief as possible: 

1st. It is said that John Smith was never an Ei glish 
Baptist in his life. Just precisely what is here meant 
by "English Baptists" I am unable to tell, but in 
the language of Crosby, vol. 1, page 92, when speak- 
ing of the object of the Dissenters in presenting to 
King James a work entitled "A Discovery of the 
English Ana-Baptists," "It is easy to guess with what 
design that was done." 

Now, we have already seen from Crosby, vol. 1, 
page 173, that the English Baptists were divided 
into "General and Particular." Then, if the church 
which he organized at Amsterdam, was a Gen- 
eral Baptist church, as he himself was a mem- 
ber of it, he necessarily must have been an Eng- 
lish Baptist. With our United Baptist friends the 
question of its being a Baptist church depends upon 
the succession of baptism. I will hereafter notice 
this theory. 

Orchard, vol. 2, page 238, says: "Mr. Smith be- 
coming the only teacher or pastor, was the first in- 
stance of our churches conforming to the regular es- 
tablishment." Mr. Orchard was a member of the 
Particular Baptist church, and pledged for succession, 
but still he claimed him as a Baptist and his church 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 37 

as a Baptist church — an English Baptist church. 
Mr. Crosby's History, vol. 1, page 265, recognizes 
this fact, and places Smith at the head of the list 
which he gives of Baptist ministers. He says : "I 
shall now give a brief account of some of the Bap- 
tist ministers who lived in the times to which the pre- 
ceding history refers, whereby it will appear that men 
of the greatest learning and piety have neither been 
ashamed nor afraid in the worst of times to stand up 
in vindication of a principle truly apostolical, though 
ever so much despised and hated." Then he gives 
a short history of the life and suceess of Mr. John 
Smith as a Baptist. Many other proofs of a historical 
character could be produced to prove that Smith was 
an English Baptist. 

2d. It is said that Smith's baptism was not a valid 
baptism. I suppose this statement is made indepen- 
dent of historical facts, and altogether from their pe- 
culiar views of the necessity of an uninterrupted suc- 
cession of baptism, in order to its legal or valid dis- 
pensation upon the believing subject. 

As this lecture is mostly of a historical character, 
I shall here refrain from any quotations from the 
Scriptures, but will bring United or Particular Baptist 
historians to my assistance in proof of the incorrect- 
ness of this statement of theirs. Crosby's History of 
Baptists, vol. 1, page 105, says: "It cannot reason- 



38 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

ably be objected that he that baptizeth should neces- 
sarily be a baptized person. For although ordinarily 
it will be so, yet it is not necessary to the ordinance ; 
for not the personal baptism of him that administers, 
but the due commission he hath for baptizing, is alone 
considered to make him a true minister of baptism. 
And here that expression holds not — one can not give 
what he hath not; as a man can not teach me that 
wants knowledge himself; because no man gives his 
own baptism, but conveys, as a public person, that 
which is given by Christ." When the first United or 
Particular Baptist church was formed in 1633, from 
which, according to the history of Ray's Succession, 
and other works, the American (United) Baptists de- 
scended, they sent one Richard Blount over to the 
Netherlands to procure baptism from the Mennonites, 
who were descended from the Waldensian churches. 
They had been told by the Pedo-Baptists, who, from 
the same theory of succession in regard to ordina- 
tions had sent "ministers into the Netherlands for 
ordination," that these Waldensian churches were 
still to be found in the Netherlands. After they had 
procured this baptism, Mr. Spilsbury, their first min- 
ister, with a full knowledge of all this, and no doubt 
to counteract this tendency of the members, said : 
" I fear men put more than is of a right due to it, 
(baptism) that so prefer it above the church and all 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 39 

other ordinances besides; for they can assume 
and erect a church, take in and cast out mem- 
bers, elect and ordain officers, administer the 
Lord's Supper, and all anew without any looking after 
succession any further than the Scriptures. But as 
for baptism, they must have that successively from 
the Apostles, though it comes through the hands of 
Pope Joan. What is the cause of this, that men can 
do all from the world but only baptism?" Crosby, 
vol. 1, page 104. 

In vol. 3 we find that Crosby says that the greatest 
number and the most judicious of the English Bap- 
tists received their baptism just as John Smith re- 
ceived his — "that after a general corruption of bap- 
tism, and unbaptized persons might warrantably bap- 
tize and re-begin a reformation.'*' 

So you see, my friends, if the baptism of Mr. 
Smith was not valid, Baptists, according to these his- 
torians of the United or Particular Baptists, are gen- 
erally without baptism. I will notice this succession 
of baptism again, while tracing the history of the 
Particular Baptists of England. 

3d. It is said that Smith did not belong to an Eng- 
lish Baptist church or a legitimate Baptist church at 
all. 

We have already seen that if he belonged to a Gen- 
eral Baptist church, it was an English Baptist church; 



40 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

but it all turns upon the validity of the organization 
to which he belongs. We have seen the manner in 
which this church was organized. Says Benedict, 
page 450, on this manner of the organization of 
churches; "Any company of Christians may com- 
mence a church in gospel order, by their own mu- 
tual agreement, without any reference to any other 
body ; and this church has all the power to appoint 
any one of their number, whether minister or lay- 
man, to commence anew the administration of gospel 
institutions." 

Mr. Benedict was a noted divine and historian 
among the United Baptists. If he is correct,' as this 
is the principle upon which Smith's church was or- 
ganized, it certainly follows that this was a legitimate 
Baptist church, and as Smith was a member thereof, 
he, beyond a doubt, was himself a Baptist. 

4th. It is said that Smith and a part of his church, 
upon the account of a difficulty in his church, were 
turned out ; repudiated their baptism and church or- 
ganization, confessed their errors, sought admission 
into one of the Pedo-Baptist Mennonite churches and 
were received therein 

These statements are taktm from Evans' History of 
Early English Baptists, who appears to be fair, can- 
did and honest, but they are not regarded as correct 
by most historians. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 41 

Some of our United Baptist friends who plead for 
succession are very remarkable for discovering divis- 
ions among General Baptist churches, and the repu- 
diation of the baptism received in these churches as 
in the "John Smith affair," and the "Roger Wil- 
liams affair" — their baptism was too "informal." John 
Smith certainly died a member of the church which 
he established, was faithful to its'principles to the last. 
His church, as an expression of their gratefulness to 
him for his counsel to them, and their deep regard 
for his earnest piety, published, after his death, in 
1611, their confession of faith, which he had drawn 
up while living, and appended to it, a short history 
of the last sickness and death of Mr. Smith. See 
Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 1, page 
86, 

"At his (Smith's) death," says Cramp's History of 
Baptists, page 287, "which took place in 1611, Mr. 
Thomas Helwisse was appointed in his place." 

This, certainly, is sufficient evidence that Smith 
was a Baptist until death. I refer, however, for fur- 
ther proof, to a correspondence between Rev. John 
Cotton, a Congregational minister of America and 
Roger Williams, in which Cotton says : 

"Sad and woeful is the memory of Mr. Smith's 

strong consolations on his death-bed, which is set as 
3 



42 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

a seal to his gross and damnable Armanianism and 
enthusiasm, delivered to the confession of faith, pre- 
fixed to the story of his life and death." This you 
will find in Wood's History of the General Baptists, 
page 150. Cotton was an enemy to John Smith's 
Armanian and Baptistic views. 

5th. It is said that Helwisse, with a remnant of 
Smith's church, returned to England in 1611 or 1612 
and that this was the second division of his church. 
We have just seen, after the death of Smith, Helwis- 
se was appointed in his place, over the church Smith 
had organized. 

Says Cramp's History of Baptists, page 287 : 
" Shortly after this publication of the confession, 
Mr. Helwisse, accompanied by most of the church, 
returned to England." 

The difference in those statements is, Ray's Suc- 
cession says : " A few of the remnants of Mr. Smith's 
company," and Cramp says: " Most of the members 
of Smith's church." 

I will now refer you to Crosby's History of Bap- 
tists, vol. 1, page 268 : * 

' ' The time of his death does not appear, but by a 
book written by Mr. Robinson, in 1614, it appears 
that he was then dead, and that a great part of his 
congregation were returned into England with the 
aforesaid persons," (Helwisse and Morton.) There 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 43 

was no more division in this church than would ordi- 
narily occur in removing from one locality to another. 
It is quite natural that all who were natives of Hol- 
land and members of this church would remain. 

6th. It is said that Helwisse's labors, after he had 
formed a church of General Baptists in London, 
were not attended with very great success. 

Mr. Helwisse did not form a church after he ar- 
rived in London, but brought his church, which 
Smith left to his care at his death, with him, and there 
had their regular church meetings as regular " as 
the evil of the times world permit." 

Mr. Crosby, in vol. 1, page 271, fully explains 
this. He says : 

" About the same time, also, Mr. Helwisse began 
to reflect upon his own conduct, and that of the 
other English dssenters, in leaving their own country 
and friends, and flying into a strange land to escape 
persecution. Whether this did not proceed from fear 
and cowardice, and whether they ought not re- 
turn, that they might bear testimony for the truth 
in their own land, where it was in danger of being 
wholly extinguished; and that they might also encour- 
age and comfort their brethren who were there., suf- 
fering persecution, for Christ's sake. The conclusion 
of this, was, that he and his church quickly left Am- 
sterdam and removed to London, where they con- 



44 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

tinued their church state, and assemblies for worship 
as publicly as the evil of the times would permit. " 

Having now seen that Helwisse did not organize a 
new church on arriving in London, but acted as past 
tor of the original church organized by Smith. 

I will now proceed to show you, notwithstanding 
the statement that he did not meet with " very great 
success," that his success was very great. For a 
proof of my assertion I refer you to Crosby, vol. 1, 
page 275, which is as follows : 

" How long Mr. Helwisse lived, and continued 
the elder of this church of Baptists at London I can- 
not find. The books wrote against them at this time 
show that they went on with great courage and reso- 
lution ; and notwithstanding the severities used against 
them by the civil power, increased very much in 
their numbers. 

One author, to prove their doctrines plain and easy 
to be understood, particularly that of baptism, says : 
"Witness the multitude of these diciples." 

"And when the famous Dod and Cleaver united 
their forces to censure their supposed errors, they 
apologized for their attempt, alleging that the people 
•of this persuasion took great pains to propogate their 
doctrine, and that divers of persons, of good note and 
piety, had been prevailed upon by them, as has been 
before observed." 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 45 

For the same proof, see Crosby, pages 95, 133, 139 
and 141 of the same volumn ; also Orchard's of Bap- 
tists, vol. 2, page 253 ; Taylor's History of the Gen- 
eral Baptists, pages 93, 94 and 95; Benedict's Histo- 
ry of Baptists, page 331. 

Besides the denial of infant Baptism, they also de- 
nied the doctrine of election, reprobation and final 
perseverance; and that their sentiments, both re- 
specting baptism and predestination gained a multi- 
tude of disciples ; in other words, the General Bap- 
tists increased rapidly in numbers," says Wood's His- 
tory of General Baptists, pages 108 and 109. Enough 
then upon this statement. 

7th. After endeavoring to prove the want of valid- 
ity for the " informal baptism" of the John Smith 
affair, in using the language of Crosby, vol. 1, pages 
99 and 100, which says: 

"If he were guilty of what they charge him with, 
'tis no blemish on the English Baptists, who neither 
approved of any such method, nor did they receive 
their baptism from him." They evidently fail to pre- 
sent the object of Crosby in making this statement. 
Thomas Wall had charged John Smith with having 
baptized himself, and that he afterwards baptized Mr. 
John Spillsbury, the first minister of the first Particu- 
lar Baptist church, and that he (Spillsbury) trans- 



46 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

mitted this same baptism to the English Baptists by 
succession of baptism. 

This Crosby was endeavoring to show was false, and 
that the English Baptists did not receive their baptism 
by succession from any minister, either General or Par- 
ticular, from John Smith or John Spillsbury. That 
while most, or all of John Spillsbury's church had re- 
ceived baptism from a church in the Netherlands 
through Mr. Richard Blount, the greatest number 
and the more judicious English Baptists had received 
their baptism just as John Smith had received his — 
had received it through an unbaptized person. The 
English Baptists held to the principle and acted ac- 
cordingly, that any company of Christians may com- 
mence a church in Gospel order, by their own mutu- 
al agreement, without any reference to any other 
body, and that this church has all power to appoint 
any one of their number, whether minister or lay- 
man to commence anew the administration of Gos- 
pel institutions. See Benedict's History of Baptists, 
page 450. 

No, my Christian friends, the English Baptists, as 
a mass, did not receive their baptism from John 
Smith, John Spillsbury, Richard Blount, or any one 
other Baptist, by succession of Baptism. Neither 
did the entire General Baptists receive their baptism 
by transmission from John Smith of his church of 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 47 

General Baptists, notwithstanding their baptism was 
valid baptism. A majority of the English Baptists, 
both General and Particular, discarding the old and 
exploded doctrine of an uninterrupted Apostolic suc- 
cession and succession of baptism, in order to its va- 
lidity, affirmed that "any company of Christians may 
commence a church in gospel order, without any ref- 
erence to any other body," etc., (as we have already 
seen) that " it is lawful for an unbaptised person to 
baptize, and his baptism is valid;" that "it is not 
the personal baptism of him that administers, but the 
commission he hath, is alone considerable, to make 
him a true minister of baptism;" that "no man 
gives his own baptism, but conveys, as a public per- 
son, that which was given us by Christ." 

In speaking of the right to begin the administra- 
tion of gospel institutions which includes baptism up- 
on the principles just named. 

Mr. Benedict's History of Baptists, page 450, 
says: 

' 'This is the Baptist doctrine of Apostolical success- 
ion which they prefer to receive from good men, rather 
than through the poluted channels of the papal pow- 
er." 

Hence, if the English Baptists acted upon this 
principle or basis, in establishing the early Baptist 
churches, they could not have received their baptism 



48 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

by succession, from John Smith, John Spillsbury, 
Richard Blount, or any other one man. Then if 
Smith had baptized himself, which Crosby says : ' ' It 
is not likely he did," as he could not give the same 
by succession to any of the English Baptists — it 
could not have been any blemish on them. The Eng- 
lish Baptists rejected this charge against Smith and 
fully recognized his right to baptize, as well as his 
baptism by Helwisse. 

Now, as Ivimey and Crosby, who were members 

of Particular Baptist churches, and were unpreju- 
diced and faithful historians, they, as English Bap- 
tists, are as well qualified to tell their origin as any 
others. We will let them speak. We will hereafter 
see, from Crosby, particularly, that while most, or 
all of the members of the first Particular Baptist 
church, which came out of the Independent Pedo- 
Baptist church, that the greatest number and the 
more judicious of the English Baptists received their 
baptism just as John Smith and his church, the Bap- 
tists in Leicestershire. The Tunkers, or German 
Baptists, and Roger Williams and his church, did, 
"by an unbaptized person baptizing, and so begin- 
ning a reformation." 

THE GENERAL BAPTIST CONFESSION OF 1611. 

This church of General Baptists, organized by 
Smith and Helwisse in 1606 or 1607, was composed 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 49 

of members who were warm advocates of religious 
liberty, as we shall now find by an examination of 
their confession of faith, which, as we have seen, was 
written by Smith before his death and (most likely) 
on the organization of this church, and published in 
1611 The Rev. R. D. Peay, a United Baptist min- 
ister, in a sermon preached to his own congregation, 
August 15, 1875, in Henderson, Ky., in speaking of 
"Religious Liberty," says of this confession of faith: 
"The earliest modern declaration on this subject that 
we find published, is the 'Baptist Confession of Faith,' 
published in 1611, many years before Baltimore, and 
two years before Jeremiah Taylor was born. This 
declaration says : ' We believe that the magistrate is 
not to meddle with religion or matters of conscience, 
nor compel men to this or that form of religion, 
because Christ is the King and Law. Giver of the 
church and conscience.' " 

This quotation of Mr. Peay's can be found in 
Crosby's History of General Baptises, vol. 1. appen- 
dix page 71, article 85. This confession referred to 
by Mr. Peay is not the genuine confession of Smith 
and church, but the confession reported by Mr. John 
Robinson (as being theirs) of whom we have spoken, 
who was the former associate of Smith, but after- 
wards an enemy of Smith and the General Baptists. 
He was a Calvinistic Pedo-Baptist, and father of the 



50 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

Independents (Congregationalists). His purpose was 
to misrepresent the sentiments of the General B ap 
tists to their civil oppressors. For an explanation, 
see Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, pp. 268-271. 
He says: "Mr. Robinson, the pastor of an English 
congregation of Brownists at Leyden, published three 
years after his remarks upon it (the confession of 
1611), and has therein collected those passages which 
were thought the most obscure or erroneous in it." 
The true language of this confession on religious lib- 
erty (which only differs in the manner of expression, 
but is the same in spirit,) may be found in Crosby's 
History of Baptists, vol. 2, appendix page 8, article 
24. They were not only warm advocates for religious 
liberty before the civil law, but they were decided 
advocates for liberty at the Lord's table. 

As we will now see by their confession, Crosby's 
History of Baptists, vol. 2, appendix page 6, article 
15, says: "The Lord's Supper is the outward mani- 
festation of the spiritual communion between Christ 
and the faithful, mutually to declare his death until 
he come." 

Again, Art. 19 declares, "That every church 
ought, according to the example of Christ's disciples 
and primitive churches, upon every first day of the 
week, being the Lord's Day, to assemble together, 
pray, prophesy, praise God, and break bread, and 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 51 

perform all other parts of spiritual communion for 
the worship of God, their own mutual edification and 
the preservation of true religion and piety in the 
church. And they ought not to labor in their call- 
ings according to the equity of the moral law, which 
Christ came not to abolish but to fulfill." 

Mr. Orchard, who was a close communionist, and 
attributed liberty at the Lord's table to looseness, after 
asserting (probably from reading Wiston's Memoirs), 
that this church of General Baptists received to their 
communion Socinians and Arians, in vol. 2, page 
262, says of them : " Nor do they reject any from 
their communion who profess themselves Christians 
and receive the Holy Scriptures as the source of 

truth and the rule of faith." 

Yes, my Christian friends, all Christians who re- 
ceive the Scriptures as their rule of faith and are 
soundly converted, are qualified to sit down together 
at the same table to the "Lord's Supper, and mutu- 
ally declare his death until he come." 

The same confession from which Mr. Peay quotes, 
which he styles a "Baptist Confession of Faith" — 
Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, appendix page 
70, article 82 — says: "That there is no succession 
in that outward church, but that all the succession is 
from heaven, and the new creature only hath the 
thing signified and substance ; whereof the outward 
church and ordinances are shadows." 



52 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

You remember, in the beginning of my lectures, 
when I was merely giving the basis of the lecture 
that was to follow, I asserted that, as a matter of 
right, myself or any other person, as a lay member 
of the church, could administer the Lord's Supper or 
baptism, and that such dispensation of the ordinances 
would be valid. While it was recognized among the 
early General Baptists as orderly that ordained min- 
isters should dispense the ordinances, yet they con- 
ceded the lay members had a perfect right, in the 
absence of such ministers, to administer all the ordi- 
nances of the church. For proof of this I refer you 
to Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 2, appendix page 
5, article 11 ; "That though in respect to Christ the 
church be one, yet it consisteth of divers particular 
congregations, even so many as there shall be in the 
world ; every one of which congregations, though 
there are but two or three, have Christ given them, 
with all the means of their salvation, are the body of 
Christ and a whole church ; and therefore may, and 
ought, when they come together, to pray, prophesy, 
break bread and admininister in all the holy ordi- 
nances ; although as yet they have no officers, or that 
their officers should be in prison, or sick, or by any 
other means hindered from the church." 

This position of this General Baptist church that it 
was simply orderly for' only ordained ministers to ad- 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 53 

minister the ordinances was one step in the direc- 
tion of the Church of England, and other ecclesiasti- 
cal powers. On this subject Mr. Orchard's History 
of Baptists, vol. 2, page 238, remarks: 

" We observe all our early churches on the conti- 
nent, allowed no distinct order of men as clergy ; 
all the men members were brethren, and each one 
could teach who possessed any talent. This was 
also maintained among the Brownists." Neal 1, page 
304, says: "These early churches all had a plurality 
of elders, as may be traced to a later period. 

Mr. Smith becoming the only teacher, or pastor, 
was the first instance of our churches conforming to 
the regular establishment, by a sanctified separation 
of one brother from the rest of the flock." 

Though it is a slight diversion, I will here refer 
you, for further proof of my position, to Benedict's 
History of Baptists, page 308. In speaking of the 
Lollards, who were the ancestors, in principle, to the 
subsequent Baptist churches, he says: 

"They formed separate and distinct societies agree- 
able to the scriptures. In these churches all were 
equal ; each could preach, baptize and break bread. 
They were united in opinion as one man, and were 
called "Bible men," since they allowed no office 
not enjoined in the Word of God." In this confes- 
sion, upon the possibility of apostasy, in Crosby's 



54 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

History of Baptists, vol. 2, appendix, page 3, article 
7, they say : 

"Men may fall away from, the grace of God, 
and from the truth which they have received and 
acknowledged, after they have tasted of the heaven- 
ly gift, and made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and 
have tasted of the good word of God, and of the 
powers of the world to come, and after they have 
escaped from the nlthiness of the world, may be en- 
tangled again therein and overcome. That a righte- 
ous man may forsake his righteousness and perish. 
And, therefore let no man presume to think that be- 
cause he hath or once had grace, therefore he shall 
always have grace, but let all men have assurance that 
if they continue unto the end they shall be saved. 
Let no man then, presume; but let all work out their 
salvation with fear and trembling." The other arti- 
cles in this confession generally agree with the Gen- 
eral Baptist confession of faith, published in the 
General Baptist Herald. 

I will, perhaps compare some of the articles of 
this confession and others of the General Baptists, 
adopted subsequently with some of the articles of the 
different confessions of the Particular Baptists at the 
conclusion of the examination of the history of the 
English Baptists. 

Having now reviewed this confession of faith of 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 55 

the General Baptists at Amsterdam, Holland, which 
continued for many years the confession of this 
church under the care of Hehvisse in London, and 
other General Baptist churchs, we will now speak 
of the return of the church from Amsterdam to Lon- 
don England. 

Says Cramp's History of Baptists, page 289: "So 
they went back to their native shores and established 
themselves in London, meeting for worship in strict 
privacy. They had encountered a great risk in re- 
turning at such a time. The fires of persecution had 
been lighted again, and men were burned to ashes for 
heresy." 

Though they were sorely persecuted on all hands 
by both ecclesiastical and civil powers, many con- 
verts were made to their faith, and other General 
Baptists were organized, which met for worship in 
caves, cellars, garrets and forests, and in fact any- 
where to evade the wrath of bloody persecutors. 

Says Taylor's History of General Baptists, vol. 1, 
page 87: "Non-Conformists, who continued in exile, 
were highly displeased with this decided conduct. 
They ascribed it to natural confidence rather than 
spiritual courage, and represented it as openly defy- 
ing the government and courting persecution. To 
remove these objections, the Baptists took occasion, 
in a book which they published in the following year, 



56 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

to explain the motives of their proceedings." This 
book was called "Fleeing on Account of Persecu- 
tion," and is quite an interesting work to all Baptists. 
It pleads for liberty. 

Says Benedict's History of Baptists, page 330 : 
"The principal arguments in favor of their returning 
course were — 

" 1st. That fleeing from persecution hath been the 
overthrow of religion in this island, the best, ablest 
and greater part being gone, and leaving behind them 
some few who, by the other departures, have had 
their afflictions and their contempts increased, hath 
been the cause of many falling back and of their ad- 
versaries rejoicing. 

"2d. Great help and encouragement would it be 
to God's people, in affliction, imprisonment and the 
like, to have their brethren's presence to administer to 
their souls and bodies, and for which cause Christ will 
say, 'I was in prison and ye visited me ; in distress 
and ye comforted me.' ' Religious Peace, or a Plea 
for Liberty of Conscience." 

Says Cramp's History of Baptists, page 271 : 
"Though the Baptists were debarred the use of the 
pulpit, the press did them good service. Two ex- 
tracts published by them soon after the events just re- 
corded, were honorable alike to their good sense and 
pious feelings. The first appeared in 1614. It was 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 57 

entitled 'Religious Peace, or a Plea for Liberty of 
Conscience,' and is the earliest published work on 
the subject in the English language. Of the author, 
Leonard Busher, Woods' History of General Baptists, 
page 105, says : ' The author was a citizen of Lon- 
don, and had been in exile ; from some of his remarks 
he appears to have been a General Baptist, but it is 
not ascertained whether he was a member of Mr. 
Smith's church." 

In this treatise, which was addressed to the King 
and Parliament, the author earnestly pleads for par- 
don, and certain reasons against prosecutions, for the 
Baptists in particular and dissenters in general. He 
says : " Christ's kingdom is not of this world ; there- 
fore it may not be purchased or defended with the 
weapons of this world, but by the Sword and Spirit." 
"It is not only unmerciful, but unnatural and abom- 
inable — yea, monstrous — for one Christian to vex and 
destroy another, for difference on questions of re- 
ligion." 

"It is not the gallows, nor prisons, nor burning, 
nor banishing, that can defend the faith. Indeed, 
the King and the State may defend religious peace by 
their sword and civil power, but not the faith, other- 
wise than by the^sword and spirit of God." See 

Cramp's History of Baptists, pp. 292-3. 
4 



58 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

PERSECUTION FOR RELIGION JUDGED AND CONDEMNED. 

Says Taylor's History of General Baptists, vol. 1, 
page 89 : " This open avowal of their sentiments, and 
steady continuance at the post of duty as they es- 
teemed it, exposed the General Baptists to great suf- 
fering. 'It was not uncommon,' to use their own 
words, ' to lie many years in filthy prisons, in hunger, 
cold and idleness; divided from wife, family and 
calling; left in continual miseries and temptations, so 
that death itself would be, to many, less punishment. 
Many of them were exposed to want, lost their es- 
tates, and were , confined in noisome dungeons till 
death released them.' These severities induced 
them to appeal to their rulers and fellow subjects. 
In 1615 they published a pamphlet entitled 'Perse- 
cution for Religion Judged and Condemned, in a dis- 
course between a Christian and anti-Christian, prov- 
ing, by the law of God and King James, many dec- 
larations that no man ought to be persecuted for his 
religion so he testifies his allegiance by the oath ap- 
pointed by the law'." 

Of this work, Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, 
pp. 272-3, says: "In the year 1615, Mr. Helwisse 
and his church in London, published a treatise en- 
titled 'Persecution for Religion Judged and Con- 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 59 

demned.' 'Tis true there is no author's name to it, 



but at the end of the epistle dedicatory, instead of 
names it is subscribed thus : 'By Christ's unworthy 
witnesses, his Majesty's faithful subjects, commonly, 
but most falsely called Ana-Baptists." But it appears 
to be theirs, because towards the end of the book, to 
clear themselves from those gross errors held by some 
Ana-Baptists, and to prove their orthodoxy on the 
point of Christ's incarnation, the lawfulness of mag- 
istracy, &c, they refer the reader to their confession 
of faith before mentioned, printed four years before 
this, and called it their Confession." "They assert that 
every man has a right to judge for himself in matters 
of religion, and that to persecute any on that account 
is illegal and Anti-Christian." So you see that these 
General Baptists, in their treatise, deny that they are 
Ana-Baptists. See Orchard's History of Baptists, 
vol. 2, pp. 252-3; Wood's History of the General 
Baptists, pp. 106-7. 

This treatise gives abundant evidence of emanci- 
pation from ritualistic prejudices, together with great 
vigor of thought and boldness of speech. General 
and United Baptists would do well to read the argu- 
ment contained in it. 

This tract contains the following : Cramp's History 
of Baptists, page 206. 

" Christian is asked : 'Who, then, shall baptize 



60 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

after Anti-Christ's exaltation?' That is, how shall 
baptism be recovered where it has been lost through 
the long prevalence of Anti-Christian rule ? " The 
answer is thus given : 

1 'We, and others affirm, that any disciple of 
Christ, in what part of the world soever, coming to 
the Lord's way, he by the Word and Spirit of God, 
preaching unto others and converting — he may and 
ought also to baptize them." 

This confirms my position in regard to a legal ad- 
ministrator of baptism. 

Continues Cramp's History on this subject: 

" These extracts will serve to show that our Baptist 
forefathers were distiguished for mental vigor and in 
dependence. They had shot ahead of their religious 
contemporaries, too many of whom, instead of sym- 
pathizing with them, caricatured their principles, and 
excited popular fury against their persons." 

Some of my United Baptist friends may object to 
what I have just read from Cramp's History of Bap- 
tists, and contend that the principle that an unbap- 
tized person can legally administer baptism, was only 
advocated by the General Baptists. But we shall 
hereafter see that * ' the greater number of the Eng- 
lish Baptists, and the more judicious," maintained 
this principle. Indeed, if there were any other Bap- 
tists at this time (1615) than General Baptists, they 
endorsed it. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 61 

Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, page 124, 
says: 

' ' It appears to be written, or at least approved of, 
by the whole body of Baptists, who then remained in 
England." 

Says Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 
1, pages 90-91 : 

''That this book was published by the General 
Baptists, is clear, from their reference to their con- 
fession of faith; but it appears to have been sanction- 
ed by all the Baptists in England." 

This could not have been sanctioned by the Par- 
ticular Baptists at the date of its first publication, as 
they did not exist as a distinct denomination, until 
1633, but was approved by them after organization. 
Hence, if this treatise expressed the true sentiments 
and practices of the Baptists of those times, they 
totally rejected the error of churchism and priestly 
rule, but recognized every disciple or believer an 
annomted piiest of God, and fully authorized by the 
Holy Scriptures to preach, to convert men and then 
baptize them. While they believed in local churches 
and organized them when practical, it was a distinct- 
ive doctrine with them, that the churches so organ- 
ized were for the benefit of the individual Christian, 
and not as an ecclesiastical power to rule or oppress 
him in any respect whatever. These people under- 



62 GENERAL EAPTISTS 

stood true Christian liberty, and asserted that it was 
centered in personal duties and individual rights. 
and without these the local churches could not have 
thus wanted vigor and life. 

THE STATUES OF GOLD. 

Says Wood's History of the General Baptists, 
page 110 : 

1 ' The assertion and maintenance of great princi- 
ples in the time of ignorance and persecution, con- 
fer a title to the gratitude of posterity* Those per- 
sons who propogated the principles of religious liber- 
ty at the commencement of the period under review, 
are regarded by Independents and Baptists as being 
worthy of all honor. So great is their claim in the 
estimation of Messrs. Bogne and Bennett, that in 
their history of dissenters they observe : ' Were 
Britain to erect a statute of gold to the memory of 
the first patrons of this sentiment, she would but im- 
perfectly discharge the debt to those who have been 
the source of her wealth, her strength and her glory. 
But while these gentlemen form a correct estimate of 
the services rendered, they are in error as to the par- 
ties entitled to the award. ' It is the distinguished 
glory of the independents,' they state, 'to have first 
recommended a principle so noble as religious liberty 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 63 

to the esteem of the world.' But the first independ- 
ent church was not founded until the year 1616, the 
year after the pamphlet entitled ' Persecution for Re- 
ligion, Judged and Condemned,' was published by 
the General Baptists — a work, Mr. Ivimny declares, 
' well-deserving immortality, * * a monu- 
ment more valuable and durable than even one of 
pure gold. The same author candidly acknowledges 
the honor claimed for the Indepentents. I do not 
hesitate to say belongs to a General Baptist church in 
London, who, when all the world wandered after the 
beast, proclaimed at the expense of liberty, and even 
of life, the noble sentiment which was afterwards re- 
echoed by the excellent Roger Williams, and em- 
bodied in the institutions of Rhode Island. May we 
not claim, then, 



64 GENERAL BAPTISTS 



THE STATUE OF GOLD 

to the memory of 

The General Baptists of 1615, 

In the Prospect of Imprisonment and 

Death, 

Nobly Stood Forth 

as the Dissenters and Defenders of 

Religious Liberty when the 

world wandered after 

the beast. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 65 

So, my friends, you see by this the glory that was 
achieved by this noble church of General Baptists at 
London was won through blood, death, imprison- 
ment, fines and poverty. While many historians 
were loath to award to the General Baptists the hon- 
or which was due them, Messrs. Crosby and Ivmny 
do not hesitate to proclaim them as earnest and able 
defenders of religious liberty, and as the genuine 
authors of those excellent treaties on true "Soul 
Liberty," that appeared in the beginning of the reign 
of James 1st. 

I will now call your attention to what was known 
by the early Baptists as "The Dutch Book on Bap- 
tism, or a Plain and Well-grounded treaties on Bap- 
tism." 

Says Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, page 128, 
of this book : 

" In the year 1610, there came forth a book vin- 
dicating the principles of the Baptists. This was 
translated from the Dutch, and is thought to be the 
first that was published in English against the bap- 
tizing of infants." 

Says Taylor's History of General Baptists, vol. 1, 
page 91, of this book: "It was a translation from 
the Dutch, and probably the work of Mr. Helwisse 
or some of his friends, who had lately returned from 
Holland." And again, on the same page, in a note, 



66 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

he says Crosby reckons this the first book published 
in English against infant baptism ; but he had not 
seen Smith's " Character of the Beast," a work writ- 
ten by Mr. Smith in defense of "Only Believer's 
Baptism," or "Concerning True Christian Baptism." 

The work above referred to as the production of 
Helwisse or of some of his friends, contains eight 
propositions. Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, 
page 128 : 

1st. "That Christ commanded his apostles and ser- 
vants of the Holy Ghost, first of all to preach the 
gospel and make disciples, and afterward to baptize 
those that were instructed in the faith, "in calling 
upon and confessing the name of God." 

"2d. That the apostles and servants of the Holy 
Ghost, have, according to the commandments of the 
Lord Jesus Christ, first of all taught, and then after- 
terwards those that were instructed in the mysteries 
of the kingdom of God were baptized, upon the con- 
fessing of their faith." 

The other six propositions are similar to these, and 
confine baptism to the believing penitent. 

Says Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 
1, page 91 : "It is probable, indeed, that all of the op- 
posers of infant baptism at that time were General 
Baptists, as the Particulars are not mentioned till sev- 
eral years after this period." (See Benedict's History 
of Baptists, page 331.) 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 67 

This quotation disproves the idea that is prevalent 
among the people, that, because of our fraternal 
greetings with the Pedo-Baptists, we, as a denomina- 
tion, both in Europe and America, are not decided 
advocates of only believer's baptism; and corrects 
the impresssion that, because of our communion with 
Pedo-Baptists, we have been called General Baptists. 
But this has been fully done while on the origin of 
our denomination. 

But to return to our subject proper. See Taylor's 
History of the General Baptists, vol. 1, page 91 : 
"The Baptists still groaned under persecution, which 
produced its constant effect; their numbers increased 
in their affliction, yet they thought themselves called 
upon to take every lawful method to obtain relief, 
and in 1620 presented an humble supplication to 
King James I. and the Parliament, for redress. In 
this they acknowledge it to be their duty to pray for 
kings and those in authority, and appealed to him 
that it was their constant practice. They represent- 
ed, in strong terms, the miseries they suffered by the 
seizure of their goods, long and painful imprison- 
ments in various parts of the kingdom, in which many 
had died and left their widows and orphans destitute. 
The 'learned (clergy) of this land,' they tell his maj- 
esty, ' procure your temporal sword to persecute us 
by casting us into prisons, where many of us have 



68 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

remained divers years in lingering imprisonments, de- 
prived of all earthly comforts, as wife, children, call- 
ing, etc., without hope of release till our God — for 
the practice of whose commandments we are thus 
persecuted — persuades the heart of your majesty to 
take pity on us, our poor wives and children. God 
is the lord of men's consciences, and the only law- 
giver in matters of religion.' To this petition they 
subjoined ten short chapters, in which they endeav- 
ored to prove — 

1st. That the Scriptures are the only rule of faith, 
and not any church, etc. 

2d. That the interpreter of this rule is the Scrip- 
tures, and Spirit of God, in whomsoever, etc. 

3d. That the Spirit of God, to understand and in- 
terpret the Scriptures, is given to every person that 
fears and obeys God, but not to the wicked. 

4th. That those who fear and obey God, and so 
have His Spirit to understand the Scriptures, are 
most commonly the simple, poor, despised, etc. 

5th. That the learned in human learning do most 
commonly err, and know not the truth, etc. 

6th. That persecution for the cause of conscience 
is against the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the King of 
Kings." 

7th. Perscution for cause of conscience is against 
the profession and practice of famous princes. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 69 

8th. Persecution for cause of conscience is con- 
demned by the ancient and later writers, etc. 

9th. It is no prejudice to the commonwealth, if 
freedom of religion were offered, etc. 

10th. Kings are not deprived of any power given 
them of God, when they maintain freedom for cause 
of conscience." 

These are only the titles of the chapters of this in- 
teresting appendix to their petition. You can find it 
in full in Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 2, appen- 
dix pp. 10 to 51. All Baptists would profit by read- 
ing it thoroughly and prayerfully. 

Says Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 
1, page 93 : " From this abstract of the contents, it 
is plain that the petition maintained the same digni- 
fied sentiments, and showed themselves the undaunt- 
ed supporters of the sacred rights of conscience, as 
when they published ' Persecuted and Condemned,' 
which they took this opportunity of reprinting." 

Orchard's History of Baptists, vol. 255-6, says of 
this petition by the General Baptists to King James I: 
"In - the most open and public manner, therefore, 
these Baptists avowed their peculiar sentiments and 
their assigned reasons for leaving the Church of Eng- 
land, which awakened their enemies to express them- 
selves in reviling language from the pulpit, and to 
harass them in their spiritual courts." 



70 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

Their petition, which was presented to his majesty, 
is divided into ten parts; each part is devoted to the 
illustration of doctrinal and the defense or explana- 
tion of their views and conduct. Their petition was 
rejected and their suffering continued ; but notwith- 
standing the severities used against them, the breth- 
ren kept up their separate meetings and increased in 
numbers. 

One of their enemies confessed that they were, in ap- 
pearance, more holy than the members of the estab- 
lished church. From this petition, which was a bold 
appeal, it is demonstrated that there were Baptists in 
many parts of the kingdom, since this petition states 
they suffered imprisonment for many years in divers 
counties of England." Of the individual, who pen- 
ned this petition for the oppressed General Baptists, 
and the manner in which it was written, Cramp's 
History of Baptists, page 298, remarks: 

' ' The author of these arguments against persecu- 
tion, says Roger Williams, as I have been informed, 
being committed, by some in power to close prison 
or to Newgate, for the witness of some of the 
truths of Jesus, and having not the use of pen and 
ink, wrote these arguments in milk, on sheets of pa- 
per brought him by the woman, his keeper, from a 
friend in London, as the staples of his milk bottle." 
See Wood's History of the General Baptists, page 
108 ; Benedict's History of Baptists, page 331. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 71 

I will now call your attention to a famous work 
written by one of John Smith's and Helwisse's disci- 
ples, John Mortin; the book was found in demolish- 
ing an old wall near Colchester. Says Crosby's His- 
tory of Baptists, vol. 1, page 277 : 

"The General Baptists were very fond of it, soon 

got it printed, and it has since received several im- 
pressions. The author of this book appears to have 
been a man of considerable learning and parts, one 
that understood the Oriental languages, and was ac- 
quainted with the writings of the fathers, but a very 
zealous Remonstrant or Armminan. It is entitled 
"Truth's Champion," and contains thirteen chapters 
on the following heads : 

I. "That Christ died for all men. 

II. Of his dying for all, to save all. 

III. Of his power given to all. 

IV. Of predestination. 

V. Of election. 

VI. Of Free-will. 

VII. Of falling away. 

VIII. Of original sin. 

IX. Of baptizing or baptism. 

X. Of the ministry. 

XL Of love. 

XII. Of those that hold that God hath appointed 
or destined unavoidably all the actions, of men and 
the sad effect that follow. 



72 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

XIII. Of the man Adam, and of the man Christ, 
with answers to divers objections to the same." 

It is written in a very good style, and the arguments 
are managed with a great deal of art and skill, so 
that those who follow the remonstrant's scheme of 
doctrines do not value it without a cause." 

From this statement of Mr. Crosby, you see clear- 
ly for yourselves that the doctrinal features of this 
book are similar to the doctrines set forth by the mod- 
ern General Baptists, both in Europe and America. 
I invite your attention again to another book which 
was written in defense of the principles of these Gen- 
eral Baptists that constituted Helwisse's church, and 
other churches of the same denomination in and 
about London at that time. It was in the form of a 
letter from a member of Helwisse's church, who had 
left the Church of England, and joining with such an 
heretical people, as they were then esteemed, wrote 
a letter to inform his relations of his real opinions, 
and what he had to offer in defence of it. This let- 
ter falling into the hands of a zealous son of the 
church, before it came to the person intended, he 
immediately published it with an answer to it. He 
says it was indited by a principal elder of that sepa- 
ration; and if so, in all probability Mr. Helwisse 
was the author of it. It bears date at London, the 
10th of May, 1622, and contains, in a little compass, 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 73 

the state of this controversy. The spirit and man- 
agement of the Baptists in those times, is very well 
represented by it. 

Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. I, 
pages 93-94, in speaking of this production, says : 

"In this letter, infant baptism is disproved — from 
the natural inability of infants to confess their sins, 
believe the gospel, etc., all which the Scriptures re- 
quires as pre-requisite to baptism — from their unfit- 
ness to be members of the visible church of Christ, 
which ought to consist of persons called out by grace 
from their natural estate, and separated from the 
world; from the impossibility of inheriting from their 
parents a fittness for gospel ordinances ; showing at 
large that the covenant made with Abraham cannot 
entitle the children of believers, merely as such, to a 
participation of the privileges of a Christian church, 
and from the total want of command, example, or 
just consequence in Scripture, for baptizing them," 
This letter is signed "H. H." 

As we have already seen, this letter was intercept- 
ed by a member of the Church of England, before it 
reached the friend to whom it was addressed. It 
was immediately published and an answer to it. Tay- 
lor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 1, page 94, 
says of this letter : 

"Before it reached those to whom it was address- 



74 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

ed, it fell into the hands of a warm advocate of the 
Church of England, who immediately published it, 
and an answer to it, under the title of "Ana- Baptism's 
Mystery of Iniquity Unmasked, by J. P., A. D., 
1623." 

This author says that the Baptists in those days 
wrote many books in defense of their opinions, and 
were in the habit of producing great numbers of 
Scriptures to prove their doctrines, and that they 
maintained an appearance of more holiness than the 
members of the established church, whose books and 
papers they avoided. He likewise informs us, that 
besides the denial of infant baptism, they also denied 
the doctrine of election and reprobation and final 
perseverance." Crosby's History of Baptists, voh 1, 
page 139, in speaking of this same report, by J. P., 
9 adds: "And they had multitudes of disciples." 

The letter referred to as being written by H. H., 
you can find in full, in Crosby's History of Baptists, 
vol 1, pages 133 to 139. Says Taylor's History of 
the General Baptists, vol. 1. page 95: "And J. P. 
assures us that their sentiments, both respecting bap- 
tism and predestination, gained, in 1623, multitudes 
of disciples, or in other words, that at that time the 
General Baptists increased rapidly in minds." 

Says Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 1, page 141 : 
"In the year 1624, there came forth much great 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 75 

champions in the defense of infant baptism. The 
famous Dod and Cleaver united their strength and 
joined together in publishing a small treatise against 
the erroneous positions of the Ana-Baptists, as they 
termed them. In the preface they apologize for their 
engaging in this controversy, by alleging that those 
of the contrary opinion were very industrious and 
took great pains to propogate their doctrine; that di- 
vers persons of good note for piety, had been pre- 
vailed on by them." 

Says Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 
1, page 96, in speaking of the sentiments of the Bap- 
tists as reported by this same Dod and Cleaver: 
"They bear the same testimony to the doctrinal sen- 
timents of the Baptists, who they say agreed with the 
Arminians in some opinions, and asserted that all 
children dying in their infancy shall be saved through 
the merits of Christ." This book was called the 
" Patrimony of Children." 

Cramp's History of Baptists, page 299, after refer- 
ing to this book (Patrimony of Children) and the an- 
swer to the letter we have spoken of signed by J. P. , 
says : 

"It would appear, therefore, that the Baptists were 
an active and growing body." 

Mr. Benedict, after reading and studying 



76 



GENERAL BAPTISTS 



carefully the works of these General Baptists, of 
which we have been speaking, in his History of Bap- 
tists, page 331, concludes in the following language : 

"I have noticed striking traits of character in all 
the documents put forth by these Baptists, for a long 
time after their return to Holland, which shows that 
they had among them men of superior talents, who 
had made up their minds at all hazards to propogate 
and defend their peculiar sentiments, not only on the 
baptismal question, but also on the principles of re- 
ligious freedom. Their remonstrances and petitions 
tCKTvil rulers were not merely humble supinations for 
an abatement of their oppressions, for unrestrained 
toleration in their religious worship, but they were 
accompanied with expositions of their sacred rights 
of conscience, which we may well suppose would not 
be very graciously received by a monarch and a 
court who were under the influence of a bigoted and 
domineering priesthood. 

We have seen from Taylor's History of the General 
Baptists, vol. 1, page 71, how the General Baptist 
church at Amsterdam, Holland, was formed : "That 
they first formed themselves into a church, and ap- 
pointed two of their number — perhaps Smith and 
Helwisse — to baptize each other and afterward to 
baptize the rest;" which expedient Cramp's History 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 77 

of Baptists, page 287, and Crosby's History of Bap- 
tists, vol. 1, page 103, fully endorse. We have also 
seen that Benedict, in his excellent History of Bap- 
tists, page 450, endorses this principle, and on page 
331 expresses his admiration of these people and the 
great work they performed for the cause of pure 
Christianity. While there are those among the Uni- 
ted Baptist brethren who, from their peculiar and fan- 
ciful notion of the necessity of "succession" in order 
to the validity of the church and the dispensation of 
its ordinances, would have us believe that from the 
fact of the "lay baptism'' or "informal baptism" of 
Smith and his church that it was not a genuine Bap- 
tist church. 

Mr. Orchard, though a Close Baptist, makes this 
statement, in vol. 2, page 238 : "The church over 
which Mr. Smith settled is said to be a 'Regular Bap- 
tist 5 church, by historians." So we challenge the 
Christian world to point us to a single Baptist church 
that endured the same privations, persecutions and 
imprisonments "as witnesses for the truth," and yet 
accomplished so much for the restoration of pure and 
genuine religion. Yes, that simple form of devotion 
to God, divested of that cumbersome appendage of 
human ceremonies which tends to supplant the ordi- 
nances which Jesus gave his people. The books 



78 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

• 

written by this church would make a valuable and 
respectable library of themselves. While they were 
engaged in restoring this simple form of devotion, 
and writing in behalf of baptistic doctrine, they were 
actively employed in organizing local churches until 
the General Baptists became very numerous in and 
about London, and in fact through all England. 

They were friends to soul-liberty and never lost 
an opportunity to present their claims before their 
civil rulers in behalf of the separation of church and 
State* So rapidly did they increase under these 
circumstances that from the date of their first church, 
which was organized at Amsterdam, in 1607, till 
1660, their churches have increased to ne^r one hun- 
dred, with a membership of twenty thousand. This 
brings us to the time when the General Baptists, after 
having endured many persecutions, privations and 
imprisonments, and after having appealed to the 
magistrates for redress in vain, presented King 
Charles II. with their petition and confession. 

Orchard's History of Baptists, vol. 2, page 299, 
says ; *'So common were the sufferings and insults of 
the times that a narrative of their afflictions was 
drawn up, and with a confession of the brethren's 
faith, signed by many of the General Baptist minis- 
ters, on behalf of twenty thousand members, present- 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 79 

ed to the King. Mr. Thomas Grantham and Mr. 
Joseph Wright, by the help of a member of Parlia- 
ment, presented them to his majesty, July 26," (1660). 

On this same subject, Cramp's History of Baptists, 
page 324, remarks : ''The Baptists saw the storm 
coming and took measures accordingly. They asked 
for no indulgence, no emoluments. They sought no 
office. All they wanted was freedom of worship. 
They recognized but one course of action in things 
civil. They were prepared to be obedient subjects. 
With these views they approached the throne. 

" 1st. A petition was presented to the King, July 
26, 1660, setting forth the sufferings inflicted on the 
churches in Lincolnshire. 'We have been much 
abused,' they say, 'as we pass in the streets and as 
we sit in oar houses ; being threatened to be hanged 
if but heard praying to our Lord in our own families, 
and disturbed in our so waiting upon Him, by un- 
civil beating at our doors and sounding of horns ; 
yea, we have been stoned when going to our meet- 
ings; the windows of the place where we have met 
have been struck down with stones ; yea, we have 
been taken as evil-doers and imprisoned, when peace- 
ably met together to worship the Most High, in the 
use of His most precious ordinances. * * * And 
as if all this were too little, they have, to fill up their 
measures, very lately indicted many of us at the ses- 



80 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

sions, and intend, as we are informed, to impose on 
us the penalty of ,£20, each, for not coming to hear 
such men as they provide us.' Accompanying ihis, 
was a confession of faith, drawn up by Thomas Gran- 
them, said to be ' owned and approved by more than 
twenty thousand'." 

Says Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 
1, pp. 185-6, when speaking of the same subject : 
' ' The Baptist were forbidden to assemble for the 
worship of God, without giving security for their 
good behavior. In the simplicity of their hearts 
they complied, never imagining that peaceably at- 
tending to their religious duties would be construed 
into bad behavior. Their enemies, however, es- 
teemed this the height of their offending, and pro- 
ceeded to still more violent outrages. The Baptists, 
finding no redress upon applying to the magistrates 
of the country, resolved to appeal to the king. Ac- 
cordingly they drew up a narrative of their suffer- 
ings, in an address to his majesty, which, by the in- 
terest of an honorable member of parliament, their 
messengers obtained an opportunity of delivering 
into the hands of Charles II., on July 26, 1660. 
* * * * At the same time, these messengers 
presented the king a brief confession of faith." 

This confession you can find in full in Crosby's 
History of Baptists, vol 2, appendix pp. 76 to 90. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 81 

The heading of this confession reads thus : "A Brief 
Confession or Declaration of Faith, lately presented 
to King Charles the Second ■ set forth by many of us, 
who are falsely called Ana-Baptists, to inform ail 
men, in these days of scandal and reproach, of our 
innocent belief and practice ; for which we are not 
only resolved to suffer persecution, to the loss of our 
goods, but also life itself, rather than to decline the 
same," &c. 

I have read you the history in this case in detail, 
for the express purpose of showing that while the 
General Baptists suffered, perhaps, more than any 
class of dissenters, notwithstanding, in the language 
of Mr. Benedict, "their remonstrances and petitions 
to their civil rulers were not merely humble supplica- 
tions for an abatement of their oppressions; for unre- 
strained toleration in their religious worship, but they 
were accompanied with expositions of the sacred 
rights of conscience." 

You see, again, they set forth the idea that they 
were not Ana-Baptists —not in the sense of re-baptiz- 
ing, but to show that they were not descended from 
the Ana-Baptists, or a part of that old denomination. 
This confession, while it differs in some of its features 
from the confession of 1611, is Arminian. 

We have seen that the General Baptists in 1660 
amounted, in number, to "more than twentv thous 



82 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

and." Notwithstanding the persecutions through 
which they passed, so wonderful was their success, 
so rapid their increase, that when William III. was 
declared king of England, Feb. 13, 1689, they 
amounted, in round numbers, to thirty thousand. 

On this subject, says Taylor's History of the Gen- 
eral Baptists, vol 1, page 302 : " If the General Bap- 
tists, at the restoration, amounted to twenty thousand, 
they must, at the revolution, exceeded thirty thousand." 

"Says Woods' History of the General Baptists, 
page 145: "It is almost certain that the General 
Baptists were then (1689) more numerous than the 
other section of the body, their numbers being sup- 
posed to have exceeded thirty thousand." 

Both General and Particular Baptists seem to have 
prospered more, prior to 1689, when William III. 
was declared king, than they did subsequently. On 
this subject Woods' History of the General Baptists, 
page 145, remarks: "William III. was declared king 
Feb. 13th, 1689. A law was soon enacted in favor 
of dissenters, which has generally been distinguished 
by the appellation of the "Act of Toleration." 

By this act a legal termination was put to the per- 
secution of non-confomists ; some respect was shown 
for the rights of conscience, and dissenters obtained 
liberty to worship God without exposing themselves to 
civil penalties; and again on page 146 "for some 



IN ENGLAND AND EUKOPE. 83 

years after the cessation of persecution, some of the 
churches continued to flourish ; in many others it 
soon became evident that the leaven of corruption 
was operating." Mr. Cramp in his excellent History 
of Baptists, bears evidence of the correctness of this 
statement, and says, on pnge 484: 

"The Baptist (General and Particular) interest in 
England fell into decline after the revolution. Lib- 
erty did not bring life. The sunshine had for a time 
a withering effect, " and again on page 500 : "The 
backsliding and coldness had effected all religious 
communities in England," and on page 496, in ac- 
counting for this decline of Baptist sentiment in Eng- 
land, he quotes from Robinson: "Christian liberty," 
exclaimed Mr. Robinson, "thou favorite off- 
spring of heaven, thou first born of Christianity, I 
saw the wise and pious servants of God nourish thee 
in their houses and cherish thee in their bosoms ; I 
saw them lead thee into pubic view; all good men 
hailed thee; the generous British Commons caressed 
and praised thee and lead thee into an upper house, 
and there — there didst thou expire in the holy laps of 
spiritual laws." Now for the cause of me decline 
among the General Baptists ; as I propose discussing 
their decline, especially, defering that of the Partic- 
ular Baptists until I shall take up their history. I 
will refer you to what Cramps History of Baptists 
says: 



84 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

"A sad degeneracy had taken place among the 
General Baptists (called Free Will Baptists, in the 
United States) who, as the reader is doubtless aware, 
adopt Arminian views, the Particular Baptists being 
denominated Calvinists. Arminianism had crept in 
among them and with it certain other errors. The 
loss of life followed the obscuration of light. Anti- 
evangelical sentiments and practices prevailed to such 
an alarming extent that the sound hearted of that de- 
nomination felt the necessity of withdrawment. They 
peaceably withdrew in the year 1770 and formed 
the New Connection of General Baptists. 

The blessing of God followed the movement. The 
new body thus constituted, is now the General Bap- 
tist denomination, the Arianised churches having for 
the most part, fallen into Socinianism or become ex- 
tinct." 

This is a correct statement, and no General Bap- 
tists feels disposed to deny it. See Taylor's History 
of the General Baptists, vol. 1, page 463; Wood's 
History of the General Baptists, page 148. 

I have given you this bit of history, to show you 
that the formation of the New connection of General 
Baptists was a matter of necessity and also to intro- 
duce the facts relative to the formation of this body, 
and to vindicate the General Baptists in the charge 
sometimes made against them by some authors and 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 85 

other parties, who have only partially studied their 
history, that they are not sound on the doctrine of 
the "Trinity." 

Now for the organization of the New Connection. 
We have seen how Smith's church was organized at 
Amsterdam. How the most of the English Baptist 
churches were formed. We have glanced at the 
approval of this method by Crosby, Tombes, Spils- 
bury and Benedict, a method once acknowledged by 
very nearly all Baptist historians and scholars, to be 
both right and valid. We have also noticed the de- 
cline of the General Baptists, and its causes. 

In speaking of this period and decline of the Bap- 
tistic sentiments, Wood's History of the General 
Baptists, page 158, remarks : 

"It was unquestionable the most unevangelical peri- 
od that had ever occured in this country since the 
reformation. At this gloomy crisis three facts present 
themselves to our notice, which bear indications of 
Divine Providence — the mission of Wesley and 
Whiteneld to arouse the nation from its spiritual 
slumbers — the efforts of Andrew Fuller to reclaim 
the Particular Baptist churches from the errors of 
Antinomianism, under the influence of which they 
were fast declining — and the rise of individuals from 
apparent obscurity to receive and perpetuate the sen- 
timents peculiar to the General Baptists, at the time 



86 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

when the scriptural character of the original body 
seemed almost at the point of extinction." 

A number of persons in Leicestershire were awak- 
ened under the preaching of Wesley and Whitefleld. 

In 1745 they organized a church, consisting of 
only seven members. Of this church, says Taylor's 
History of the General Baptists, vol. 1, page 17 : 

"Their enemies, indeed, called them Methodists, 
but they had never been properly connected with 
that party and disapproved of several things in their 
doctrine and discipline;" on page 18: "They called 
themselves Independents." 

Says Wood's History of the General Baptists, page 
165 : "Some of the preachers at an early period, en- 
tertained doubts on the subject of baptism; at length 
discovering from the Scriptures that immersion was 
the proper mode of baptism, they resolved to adopt 
it. A large tub was brought into the meeting-house 
in which, for several years they immersed their in- 
fants. * * * * The friends at Bar- 
ton examined the Scriptures on the subject and found 
that the New Testament furnished no authority for 
the baptism of infants, but enjoined baptism on those 
who professed to repent and believe. After much 
consultation, it was agreed that Mr. Donisthrope 
should baptize Mr. Kendrick and then Mr. Kend- 
rick should baptize him, after which they should unite 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 87 

in administering the ordinance to the rest of their 
associates. 

''This was accordingly done, about the middle of 
November, 1755, when between sixty and seventy 
thus solemny devoted themselves to the service of 
the Savior." And again, on page 168 : "The cause 
spread over a large tract of country. * * * Af- 
ter frequent discussions, it was agreed (1760) that the 
body should be divided into five distinct and inde- 
pendent churches, each having its own pastors or 
teachers. These prosperous churches united, in 1770, 
with the more orthodox part of the old connection 
of General Baptists, who had left their brethren on 
account of differences on the question of the Trinity, 
and the union of these two bodies formed the new 
connection of General Baptists. Their first associa- 
tion was held in London, on June 7th, 1770." 

Continues Wood's History, on page 177: "After 
solemn prayer to God for His direction and blessing, 
a union was formed under the designation of ' The 
New Connection of General Baptists, formed in 1770, 
with a design to revive experimental religion or prim- 
itive Christianity, in faith and practice.' * * Six 
articles of religion were proposed, agreed upon and 
signed, as a declaration of their views on those points 
which had been the chief subjects of difference be- 
tween them and the other body." 



88 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

As we have no disposition to again, at this junc- 
ture, introduce the historic evidence of the right of 
this church to begin or restore immersion, but as 
we have seen already, it was an established principle 
among Protestants, and in particular among Baptists, 
"that an unbaptized person might warrantably bap- 
tize, and so begin a reformation," we shall now pass 
to the consideration of another subject. 

I now call your attention to a custom among Gen- 
eral Baptists, of the laying on of hands on baptized 
believers. If my m'emoiy serves me correctly, it was 
introduced among them between the years 1640 and 
1650. The necessity of this imposition of hands was 
pleaded for from their interpretation of Hebrews, 
vi., 1-2. 

Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol, 1, 
page 410, says of this custom among them: "This 
doctrine spread rapidly and very extensively, but 
never appears to have been adopted by all the Gen- 
eral Baptists." 

I have introduced this doctrine of the General 
Baptists of England for the purpose of showing you 
that this custom was transmitted to the General Bap- 
tists of America by them, and we will, when we come 
to examine the history of these people in America, 
see that they, from the fact of this custom, were 
called Six-Principle, or General the Baptists, while 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 89 

Particular Baptists, in contra-distinction from them 
and this custom, were called Five-Principle Baptists. 
Bear this in mind, for we shall speak of these princi- 
ples as separating the American Baptists, and to 
show their true origin and descent, that the Six-Prin- 
ciple Baptists descended from the General Baptists, 
while the Five-Principle Baptists descended from the 
Particular Baptists of England. 

The General Baptists of England, like the Partic- 
ular Baptists, adopted several confessions of faith. 
While the confession adopted in Amsterdam, Hol- 
land, taught a possibility of apostasy and a possible 
salvation to all, some others indicate that the Gen- 
eral Baptists of some localities had swung somewhat 
to the Calvinists on these principles, though the greater 
number seem to have adhered tenaciously to first 
principles. 

COMMUNION AMONG THE GENERAL BAPTISTS. 

We will again take up the communion question 
among the General Baptists. We have seen from 
Crosby's History of Baptists, vol. 2, appendix page 
4, article 11 of the Smith confession, that the com- 
munion and baptism should be regularly kept up in 

all churches, to be dispensed by lay members in the 
5 



90 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

absence of the pastors; and in article 15 : "That 
the Lord's Supper is the outward manifestation of the 
spiritual communion between Christ and the faithful, 
mutually to declare his death until he come." 

Orchard's History of Baptists, vol. 2, page 262, in 
speaking of the General Baptists, quotes Mosheim, 
vol. 2, page 218, in the following language : "There 
is," says Mosheim, ' much latitude in their system of 
religious doctrines, which consists in such vague and 
general principles as renders their communion acces- 
sible to Christians of almost all denominations. Ac- 
cordingly they tolerate, and, in fact, receive among 
them of every sect, even Socinians and Arians ; nor 
do they reject any from their communion who prof ess them- 
selves Christians, and receive the Holy Scriptures as the 
source of truth and rule of faith" 

In following this quotation of Mr. Mosheim, Mr. 
Orchard willingly or unwilling does the General Bap- 
tists an injustice. This injustice is apparent when we 
come to notice the following, from Mosheim, in the 
same history of these people, he says : 

" After the manner of the ancient Menonites, they 
look upon their sect as the only true Christian church and 
consequently shun, with the most scrupulous caution the 
communion of all other religious societies.'" 

Yon see these statements are not congenial with 
each other. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 91 

Mosheim had read Mr. Whiston's Memoirs, after 
he had joined the General Baptists, and consequently 
founded his first remark (quoted by Orchard) from 
Whiston's statement 

You will perceive that much, or at least a part of 
these statements refer to receiving into church fellow- 
ship persons entertaining opinions not strictly taught 
or believed by the General Baptists, but yet they do 
refer to the Lord's Supper and show that the Gener- 
al Baptists were generally liberal on this question. 
When the question of the laying on of hands was 
pleaded for as a necessity or prerequisite to commun- 
ion, they drifted in the direction of close communion 
but as this principle (laying on of hands) was more 
fully understood, they became avowed open commu- 
nionists, and to-day are, perhaps, among the Liberal 
Baptists, the most free and liberal at the Lord's Table. 

For proof of this, I refer you to the resolution 
passed by their General Association, held at Wis- 
bech, in 1875, which I will now read you : 

"On motion of the Rev. S. Cox, it was 

' i Resolved, That in the future, the communion ser- 
vice held during the meeting of the Association be 
open to all evangelical believers." See General 
Baptist Year Book, 1875, page 24. 

They were soon enabled to cut themselves loose 
from ritualism and proscriptive principles and adopt 



92 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

the principle set forth by Crosby's History of Baptist, 
vol. 4, page 420, which says: 

"For my own part, I make no scruple to declare, 
that it is my opinion that no faith ought to be ex- 
plicitly required, in order to the communion of 
Christians, considered as such, but what is necessary 
to denominate a man a Christian." 

Yes, the General Baptists drew inspiration from 
these principles and soon rose above sectarian prin- 
ciples and open communion was the result. 

Perhaps you ask me in your minds, as I have said 
the first church of the General Baptist denomina- 
tion was organized by John Smith, in 1607, if there 
were no General Baptists previous to this time? I 
answer in the affirmative. After stating the leading 
doctrinal features of the General Baptists, which I 
hope you have kept in your mind, I will proceed to 
examine the doctrines of the primitive churches, so 
as to see how they (the primitive and General Baptist 
churches) compare with each other. As I prefer 
particular Baptist proof on this subject I will intro- 
duce again, Mr. Crosby, vol. 4, page 407, who 
says: 

"The English Baptists, though they are unhappily 
disunited, and distinguished by the title of Generals 
and Particulars, yet it is the only point I know of 
wherein they differ from the primitive churches." 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 93 

On pages 440-48-49, after giving the opinions 
of the Gnosties, which are foreign to the Bible, as 
he thought, he says : 

"Where such principles as these are found among 
men professing Christianity, there are sufficient 
grounds for separation and distinction and such may 
deservedly be styled Antinomians . But I know of 
none such among the English Baptists. If they dif- 
fer about the extent of Christ's death, free-will and 
the efficay of grace, this is no more than what has 
been common to the church from the beginning, and 
at most can be deemed but mental errors, and if 
they will continue to make distinctions and keep up 
separate communities thereon, let them remember 
who said: "A house divided against itself cannot 
stand." 

Inter-communion among the English Baptists 
(both General and Particular) existed largely in the 
days of Mr. Crosby, and to-day the Association be- 
tween them, known as the Baptist Union, welcomes ir- 
respective of denominational peculiarities, all Baptists 
to the immunities of such an Association, of which 
we will say more before we are through with the Eng- 
lish Baptists. 

Again, on. pages 414-15-17-18: " In the con- 
duct of the primitive churches, it is observable, that 
as there ought to be, so there was a mutual inter- 



94 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

course and society fellowship and communion in all 
useful and regular ways, between their several re- 
spective churches, and congregations, being all Chris- 
tians and believers." 

"As to their discipline, though there might be a 
disagreement in some lesser and inferior points, yet 
they still retained peace and order, and one church 
did not imperiously claim and exercise jurisdiction 
over another, but whatsoever was regularly perform- 
ed in one church was allowed to be valid and obliga- 
tory by all others. Whoever was baptized, ordained 
or the like, in one church, was not obliged to receive 
those things de novo, if his circumstances, and the 
Divine Providence should necessitate to be a mem- 
ber of another. 

To advance proofs of this concerning baptism is 
needless, seci :g it is well known that the baptism of 
heretics was valid and never reiterated." Knowing 
these principles to be largely practiced among both 
General and Particular Baptists, he delivers himself 
in the following, page 419 : "And thus, my brethren, 
I hope in the course of this history I have made it 
appear that you are the only people who closely ad- 
here to the apostolical practice, and the practice among 
the primitive churches-" and in the conclusion of his 
history on the same subject, page 420, he says: "In 
the happy days of primitive Christianity, the Chris- 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 95 

tians, who were Baptists, were so eminent, above all 
other sects, for their moderation, the peaceableness 
of their temper and disposition, and for their mutual 
love and charity, that the world observed it with as- 
tonishment, and the very heathens cried out, with 
admiration, '* Behold, how they love one another ■." 

While a majority of the Particular Baptists in Eng- 
land at the present time practice open communion, 
they have only returned to the practice of the early 
churches of Particular Baptists in England; that is 
in allowing each church to regulate its own affairs. 
This will the more clearly appear when we give you 
a quotation from the "Particular Baptists' Confession 
of Faith," known as the London Confession, adopted 
in 1689, and subsequently adopted as the Philadel- 
phia Confession. At this assembly in London in 
1689, Mr. Crosby says, in vol. 3, page 246 : 

"There were more than one hundred congregations 
of them (Particular Baptists) assembled together to 
consult of proper ways and means to advance the 
glory of God and the well being of their churches." 

The same author, in the same volume, says, on 
page 249, that they declare in the following words: 

1 ' We disclaim all manner of superiority or suprem- 
acy over the churches, and that we have no authority 
or power to prescribe or impose anything upon the 
faith or practice of any of the churches of Christ. (t 



96 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

And on page 250 they further declare: 

"That in those things wherein our church differs 
from another church, in their principles or practices 
in point of communion, that we can not, shall not 
impose upon any particular church therein, but leave 
every church to their own liberty to walk together as 
they have received of the Lord." 

These declarations have the true ring of Baptist 
principles, and may be read with profit by every lover 
of religious liberty and church independence. 

Therefore, it appears that the authority exercised 
over the Baptist churches in America by the associa- 
tions, is an innovation on Baptist principles and a de- 
parture from the practice of the early churches of 
English Baptists. 

Now, my Christian friends, it is to be regretted 
that the United Baptists of the United States have so 
far apostatized from this original love and unity, which 
was so abundant among the primitive Baptists, and 
after rejecting the Calvinistical creed of their ances- 
tors (the Particular Baptists), claim to be the only 
true church, and refuse to commune with the other 
Baptists at the Lord's table. But the General Bap- 
tists, as you see from these quotations, stick to prim- 
itive principles in regard to the Zord's Supper and 
Baptism. So you see from this the General Baptists 
are, in principle, what the primitive churches were. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 97 

Yes, in principle, and as a General Baptist de- 
nomination, we claim to be just what the Apostolic 
churches were. 

Every Baptist historian recognizes the fact that the 
Baptist churches which existed prior to the organiza- 
tion of the first Particular Baptist church in London, 
Sept. 12th, 1633, were what would now be called 
General Baptists, and it is a most singular fact that 
Orchard, Graves, Ford, Ray, and^all other Baptists 
who insist on the necessity of succession in order to 
valid baptism, include, in their line of succession, 
both General' and Open Communion Baptists, who 
lived previous to 1633, and many who have lived 
since that time, bearing our name and holding to our 
principles of soul liberty and free communion. Yes, 
men who, if living to-day — notwithstanding they 
claim them as their ancestors — they would not com- 
mune with them at the Lord's table. 

Yes, my General Baptist brothers and sisters, while 
we attach no importance to the theory of succession 
in order to the valid dispensation of the ordinances 
which Jesus gave his people, still we may console 
ourselves and rejoice to know that we have a regular 
historic line from the primitive churches down through 
the Baptist martyrs of old, in point of principle and 
not in name. In the language of Benedict, page 73 : 
"We have good reasons to believe that Baptist sen- 



98 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

timents have lived in every age, from the Apostles to 
the present time. " Not the United or General Bap- 
tist denominations — but Baptist sentiments — for we, 
as denominations, are comparatively young. 

In order to understand how to trace the line of the 
descent of these two denominations, and in order to 
know which has the best claim to antiquity, we must 
understand the names which were generally applied 
to them, respectively, and by them accepted. The 
Generals were called Arminians, and the Particulars, 
Calvinists. 

I have already referred you to Crosby's History of 
Baptists, vol 1, page 173. In order to understand, I 
will repeat it: "Those that followed the Calvinistical 
scheme of doctrines, and from the principle point 
therein particular election, have been called 'Particular' 
Baptists ; and those that have professed the Arminian 
or remonstrant tenets, and have also, from their chief 
of doctrines — universal redemption — been called 
' General ' Baptists." 

With this explanation of Crosby's, I pass to a quo- 
tation from Benedict, to show the correctness of my 
statements. Page 325: "It is, however, very well 
known by the community at home and abroad, that, 
from a very early period, they have been divided into 
two parties, which have been denominated General 
and Particular ; which differ from each other mainly 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 99 

in their doctrinal sentiments — the Generals being Ar- 
minians, and the others Calvinists." 

With these definitions we are prepared to advance 
in our investigations. We will first see which of the 
two denominations is the older, and then we will look 
after the sentiments of those Baptists preceding the 
organization of either of the denominations. We 
have referred you frequently to the different Baptist 
authors who fix the date of the first General Baptist 
church in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1607. 

I will now read you from an official report of the 
gathering at Kittering, to celebrate the fiftieth year 
from the formation of the Missionary Society, under 
whose auspices Cary and others, of the first Baptist 
missionaries were sent to India. Of this report Bene- 
dict says, page 304 : 

"As the narrative was published as an official doc- 
ument in coi nection with the doings of the Jubilee, 
the presumption is, that its statements were approved 
by the whole denomination." 

Now what does it say in reference to the age of 
the two denominations? Let us see. 

"The first regularly organized Baptist Church of 
which we possess any regular account, is dated from 
1607, and was formed in London, (Amsterdam) by 
a Mr. Smith, who had been a clergyman in the 
Church of England. It was formed on the princi- 



100 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

pies of the General Baptists. In the year 1633 the 
first Particular Baptist church was formed in London 
under Mr. Spilsbury." 

This statement, which Mr. Benedict said was offi- 
cial, was made at a Particular Baptist gathering. It 
cannot be otherwise than correct. 

With these facts from creditable authors, I will give 
you the statement of Mr. Cramp in his History of 
Baptists, page 302, which is as follows : 

"In the year 1633 an event occurred which re- 
quires specific notice. This was the formation of the 
Particular or Calvanistic Baptist Church in Eng- 
land. Hitherto the Baptists favored the Arminian 
views." 

This settles the question of the age of the two de- 
nominations and conclusively shows that all Baptists 
in England, especially, were General or Arminian. 
But let us see if we have no further proof on this sub- 
ject. Were these sentiments confined to England ? 
We think not. Let us see. Benedict, in his History 
of Baptists, says: 

"It is evident that the Dutch and German Baptists 
have, generally speaking, been of an Arminian cast.' 7 

But is this all? Let us hear Cramp, on this sub- 
ject, page 233 : 

"But they could not put down the Baptists, who 
grew and flourished, in spite of them. Congrega- 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 101 

tions were discovered in Booking, in Essex, at 
Feversham, in Kent and other places. Their num- 
ber must have been considerable, as four ministers 
were arrested when the discovery was made. The 
names of the ministers were Humphrey Midleton, 

Henry Hart, George Broadbridge and Cole. 

At the time of their apprehension they were assemb- 
led at Bocking. Besides the ministers, about sixty 
members of the congregation were assembled. Th-ir 
christian organization appears to have been correct 
and complete. They met regularly for worship and 
instruction, the ordinances of the gospel were attend- 
ed to, contributions were made for the support of the 
cause, and so great were their zeal that those who 
lived in Kent were known to go occasicnally into Es- 
sex to meet their brethren there — a journey of four- 
score miles — which, in the sixteenth century, was no 
small undertaking. When they were brought into the 
ecclesiastical court they were examined on forty-six 
articles and charged with Pelagianism and other er- 
rors. Their religious sentiments, or those imputed to 
them, would now be called Arminian." 

Continuing his narative of these people, he says, 
on page 242 : 

"We cannot but regret that so little is known of 
this interesting band of disciples. Strype asserts 
that they 'were the first that made separation from 
the reformed Church of England, having gathered 



102 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

congregations of their own.' As they confessed that 
they had not communed in the parish churches for 
two years, their separation must have taken place 
about the year 1548, which was before the Presbyte- 
rians or Independents were known in England. Th e 
Baptists were the vanguard of the Protestant dissent- 
ers in that country." 

The quotation is lengthy but interesting on many 
accounts. 

1st. It shows us that these people in sentiment, 
were General or Arminian Baptists. 

2d. It shows that they were the first to separate 
from the establised Church of England. 

Orchard's History of Baptists, vol. 2, pages 204-5 
says: 

" It 'is probable that many Baptists were in Kent, 
and that the General Baptist church did exist at this 
time, (1548) at Canterberry, with the church at Ey- 
thorn." "Among the Biptist, in Kent, stands the 
name of Joan Baucher. 

Ford's Origin of Baptists, page 46, in speaking of 
Joan Boucher, or Joan of Kent, says : ' She was a 
Baptist, a member of a Baptist church then existing 
at Canterbury, and which exists to this day and 
hour." 

This, he said, in tracing the succession of the Bap- 
tists (United Baptists.) For an elucidation of the 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 103 

facts in regard to the religious opinion of these peo- 
ple, I will now read you what Wood's History of the 
General Baptists says upon this subject; and as he is 
an English author, he is entitled to great credit upon 
this particular subject. In speaking of these same 
people of whom we have been reading from Cramp's 
History of Baptists in Kent and Essex, he says, on 
pages 98-9 : "Congregations were discovered at Fe- 
versham, in Kent, and Booking. Essex, and in other 
towns and villages." Four of their teachers, with a 
considerable number of the people, were seized. Mr. 
Humphrey Middleton was the most eminent of these 
ministers. He appears to have been in prison until 
the end of Edward's reign. Yet the Baptists became 
very numerous. Five hundred are said to have re- 
sided in one town. The clergy endeavored to check 
their progress by publications on baptism, but the 
Baptists replied that "children are of Christ's king- 
dom without baptism." Luke xviii, 16. 

"As books did not silence them, a commission was 

issued and a Protestant inquisition established, under 
the especial direction of Cranmer. Joan of Kent, 
supposed to have been a member of the General Bap- 
tist church at Canterbury, or Eythorne, fell a victim 
to the misguided clergy." It is computed that during 
three years, "two hundred and seventy persons were 
burnt to death at the stake, besides those who were 
punished by imprisonments, fines and confiscations." 



104 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

Taylor's History of the General Baptists, vol. 1, 
page 57, says: 

"Tradition says that Joan of Kent was a General 
Baptist, and a member of a General Baptist church 
which, at this early period, existed at Canterbury." 
Ivimy's History of Baptists, page 138. 

These people, with their church organization, did 
not belong to the General Baptist denomination, be- 
cause, as we have seen, there were neither General 
or Particular Baptist denominations at this time, but 
they were, in principle, what the General Baptist de- 
nomination was when organized. And we find the 
church at Eythorn afterwards belonged to the Gen- 
eral Baptist denomination. John Knott, the pastor 
of this church, assisted at the formation of the new 
connection of General Baptists in 1770. This church 
afterwards embraced the Calvinistical doctrines and 
joined the Particular Baptists. 

Now we have heard these several authors, and they 
are a unit on our side of the question. They bore 
abundant evidence that those professing Baptistic 
principles were what would now be called General or 
Arminian Baptists. While we believe their church 
organizations were broken up, under the proclama- 
tion of Elizabeth during the latter part of her reign, 
which commanded all heretics to depart the land, to 
which we have already referred, we have no doubt 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 105 

but they returned during the reign of King James I., 

and reorganized many of their churches. 

We find many of these churches afterwards in the 
General Baptist denomination, and bearing their de- 
nominational name. This is, I suppose, why authors 
of church histories have called them General Bap- 
tist churches prior to their union with the General 
Baptist denomination. And here, perhaps, is the 
point at which Mr. Ray, in his Succession, finds that 
the General Baptists received their baptism from an- 
other source than John Smith and his church, with 

their "informal" and "lay" baptism. 

So Joan of Kent, with her numerous brothers and 
sisters in the gospel, were, in principle, General Bap- 
tists. But this is not all. I have said the Genera^ 
Baptists were in historic line with the Baptist martyrs 
of old. Now, if we are to credit the various Baptist 
authors from whom I have been quoting, we will find 
that we are inevitably driven at once to the conclu- 
sion that William Sawtree, who was the first to suffer 
death in England, and Edward Wightman, the last, 
for their religious opinions, were both General Bap- 
tists. Orchard's History of Baptists, vol. 2, pages 
148-252. Edward Wightman was a member of the 
General Baptist church which Smith and Helwisse 
organized. He was a near relative to the Wightmans 
of America, who were General Baptists. 



106 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

Time would fail us to speak, in particular, of the 
different martyrs among the General Baptists. Yes, 
my friends, they were numerous. They suffered death 
in its most horrible forms rather than abjure their 
religious principles. 

There are others of whom I will here si eak. Says 
Benedict's History of Baptists, page 327 : 

"Among the most distinguished ministers of this 
order in early times, the General Baptists mention 
Smith, Helwisse, Lamb, Denne, the Jeffrys, Barbar, 
Grantham, Russell, Gosnold, Plant, Ives, James, 
DuViel; and at later periods, their men of eminence 
have been Gale, Emlyn, Whiston, the friend of Sir 
Isaac Newton, of Lord Chancellor King, and of 
Queen Caroline, wife of George I.; James Foster, 
eulogized by Pope for his eloquence as a preacher ; 
Toulmin, commentator of NeaPs History of the Puri- 
tans ; Dan. Taylor, John Evans, author of a work of 
great currency on religious denominations ; J. G. 
Pike, of Derby, (yet living) Secretary of their Foreign 
Missionary Society, and author of several most excel- 
lent treatises widely circulated both in England and 
in our own country.? John Milton, the poet, was a 
General Baptist. John Gosnold, of whom we have 
spoken, was a true friend of Hansard Knollys, and 
was the most eloquent divine of his day, his congre- 
gations in London numbering three thousand. 



IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE. 107 

But in reference to succession, I will, ii\ conclu- 
sion, present you with the theory of the General Bap- 
tists on this subject, and will read you from Taylor's 
History of the General Baptists, page 1, for proof. 
He says: 

" A General Baptist who understands the true prin_ 
ciples of his profession, does not esteem it necessary 
to trace his tenets through the several ages of the 
church. He is persuaded — however early and how- 
ever generally the contrary opinion may have pre- 
vailed — that those doctrines which distinguish him 
from other professors of Christianity are expressly 
taught and enjoined in the grand commission which 
the Adorable Head of the Church gave to his Apos- 
tles immediately before his taking his seat at the right 
hand of God." 

This is sufficient evidence to all. Now we have 
proven, as we conceive, among others the following 

facts : 

1. The General Baptist churches are, in point of 
principle — not in uninterrupted succession — one with 
the apostolic or primitive churches. 

2. The General Baptists place no kind of reliance 
on uninterrupted succession, to prove the correctness 
of their position, but that those doctrines which dis- 
tinguish them from other Christians are taught and 
enjoined in the Scriptures — yet they are in line with 
those ancient churches. 



108 GENERAL BAPTISTS 

3. Tfre General Baptist denomination is twenty-six 
years older than the Particular Baptist denomination 
— the former having been organized in 1607, the lat- 
ter in 1633. 

4. Prior to the organization of the first Particular 
Baptist- church in 1633, in London, all Christians 
professing baptistic principles in England were what 
were called Arminian or General Baptists, which is 
equally true of other countries. 

5. That open or inter-communion, among all Bap- 
tists, both General and Particular, in ancient days, 
was the general rule, and close communion the ex- 
ception. 

6. That the General and Free Will Baptist churches 
of America are the legitimate offspring of the Gen- 
eral Baptists of England and Europe, and they of 
the original or primitive churches, in point of princi- 
ples and practice. 



CHAPTER II. 

EARLY HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES. 

In our pursuit of knowledge concerning General 
Baptists in England, Mr. Adam Taylor's History of 
the General Baptists was the first that gave us any- 
thing like a connected history of these people. Sub- 
sequently, we obtained the history of J. H. Wood, 
which fully corroborates everything that Mr. Taylor 
says, and fully agrees with the detached fragments 
gathered from many other histories. In pursuing the 
several Baptist histories of the United States, we 
found the frequent mention of Mr, Richard Knight's 
History of the early General Baptists in America. 

This work was diligently sought after by the writer 
for several years. Meanwhile other General Bap- 
tists in the West were looking after our history, and 
finally, through the indefatigable efforts of Jeff. Hole- 
man, M. D., formerly of Clayville, Kentucky, but 
now of Evansville, Indiana, Knight's History was 
obtained of Rev. A. H. Heath, of Providence, 
Rhode Island. This work takes up the history of the 



110 EARLY HISTORY 

General Baptists, or the principles of Christianity 
promulgated through the General Baptists, from the 
days of the Apostles to the beginning of the present 
century, or 1827. In doing this Mr. Knight con- 
denses Taylor's History of the English General Bap- 
tists into the space of about two hundred and forty 
pages. 

He then takes up the rise and progress of the Gen- 
eral Baptists in the eastern part of the United States, 
as organized by Roger Williams, in 1637, and traces 
them on down to 1827. Mr. Knight had also heard 
of some General Baptists in Virginia, North and 
South Carolina, but of these he could gather no par- 
ticular information, only Elder Jno. Comer, a member 
of the same association of which Mr. Knight belong- 
ed, had met one Paul Palmer, a minister, belonging 
to the Kehukee Association of General Baptists, in 
North Carolina, who reported that said Association 
consisted of twenty churches and eighteen ministers. 

During the late civil war, however, Mc- 

Clure, a son of Brother Joseph P. McClure, of Prince- 
ton, Indiana, while in the South, found the history 
of the said Kehukee Association, written by Burkitt 
and Reed, which brings the history of these people 
down to 1794, when most of them were transformed 
nto a Calvinistic or Regular Baptist Association. 

We will now briefly notice the history of the Gen- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. Ill 

eral Baptists in the New England States and then give 
an account of the Kehukee Association in North Caro- 
lina and then pass to the history of the General 
Baptists in the West, as organized by Elder Benoni 
Stinson and others. 

"The oldest Baptist churches in the United States 
were General Baptist in sentiment and usuage." 

This is the general expression of historians in Ame- 
rica. Mr. Benedict says : 

"They were generally inclined to those doctrinal 
sentiments which in England, would have denomi- 
nated them General. Baptists." 

Mr. Wood says : ' ' They were unanimous in re- 
jecting the Calvinist doctrines and were, in fact, a 
body of General Baptist churches," and as such had 
correspondence with the General Baptists of Eng- 
land, in 1824. 

Mr. R. Knight, Pastor of the Scituate church, in 
Rhode Island, and their historian, denominate them 
General or six-principle Baptists. He also connects 
their history with the English General Baptists, and 
blends their history with the General Baptists of 
North and South Carolina and Virginia, who were 
organized and pastored by General Baptist ministers 
direct from London, England. 

As a further and final proof of those early churches 



112 EARLY HISTORY 

of General Baptists in the United States, being the 
direct descendents of the English General Baptists, 
we quote from Crosby's History of English Baptists, 
vol. 1, page 111, in speaking concerning the first set- 
tlers in New England says : 

' ' That some of these were Baptists, appears from 
Mr. Cotton Mather's Ecclesiastical History of New 
England, where I find the first settlement of the 
English in this part of America, was in the year 
1620." 

Speaking of certain pious Non-Conformists who 
had left England for Holland, and finally come to 
America in 1620, in vol. 1, page 111, further says : 

' ' Among these, some few were Anti-Pedo-Baptists, 
so that Anti-Pedo-Baptism is as ancient in those parts 
as Christianity itself." 

These Anti-Pedo-Baptists were, evidently, General 
Baptists, as it is certain that the Particular Baptists, 
(at this date, 1620) were not in existence in England, 
until 1633. Therefore these Anti-Pedo-Baptists 
could not have been Particular Baptists. 

The sixth principle refers to the practice of laying 
on of hands on the newly-baptized, based on Heb. 
vi., 1, 2, 3. ''This practice," says Mr. Taylor, 
vol. 1, p. 411, "caused much confusion in England 
about 1670," and the "imposition of hands on the bap- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 113 

tized, as such, appears to have been unknown to the 
Confessors of 1611. If we credit D'Anvers it was 
first introduced in 1645 by Frances Cornell into the 
churches in Bishopsgate street, which afterward re- 
moved to White alley. During the protectorate it 
spread rapidly in various parts of the kingdom. In 
1659 it was defended by William Jeffreys in Kent, 
and in 1660 was inserted in the famous confession 
presented to the king. In 1672 the churches in 
Bucks and the neighboring counties introduced it into 
their creed, and it was held by most of the Lincoln- 
shireGeneral Baptists. In London it formed a prin- 
ciple band of union among the five churches, though 
there were several flourishing societies which opposed 
the practice. Mr. Griffiths, indeed, quotes the pious 
Gosnold as an advocate for the practice, but it was 
not adopted by the church in Paul's Alley. The 
General Baptists in the west of England, it is proba- 
ble, did not approve of it, and there were many 
churches in Lincolnshire who have a decided testi- 
mony against making it essential to communion. 
W. Jeffreys, Thomas Grantham, J. Griffiths plead for 
the necessity of this barrier between brethren in the 
seventeenth century. 

Mr. Benedict, referring to this question, says : 
"The General Baptist churches are not all properly 
united in one close body any more than the Particu- 



114 EARLY HISTORY 

lars. Some believe more and some less of the lead- 
ing maxims of the general creed, and this may be 
said of all sects and parties whatever." 

It does not appear that the practice of laying on of 
hands ever caused much trouble in the new connec- 
tion of General Baptists in England. We find noth- 
ing of the kind in their confession at the present time. 
While the first General Baptist churches in the Uni- 
ted States were strenuous for laying on of hands, it 
does not appear that they made it a test of fellow- 
ship or essential to communion for a long time, for 
we find some of these churches practicing open or 
free communion for upwards of one hundred years 
after their organization, and at least one, to-wit : the 
second church in Newport, planted in 1656, has 
never practiced anything else but open communion. 
Of the church in Swansea, in Massachusetts, Mr. 
John Callender, who was one of its pastors, says : 

" Union with Christ was the sole ground of their 
communion with each other, and they were ready to 
accept of, receive to and hold church communion 
with all such as, in the judgment of charity, were 
fellow members with Chrfst Jesus, though differing in 
such controversial points as are not absolutely and 
essentially necessary to salvation." 

From the remarks of Mr. Backus and several other 
historians, we conclude that the most of those early 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 115 

churches endorsed the above sentiments as set forth 

by Mr. Cailender. 

Of these early churches, historians generally do 

not give us any particular account of but a very few 

of them. Mr. Wood says, on page 234, that: "In 

1824 they had fifty-seven able, laborious and useful 

preachers. The publications which were issued prove 

the authors to have been men of real talent and of 

considerable literary attainment." 

Mr. Knight,- who was not writing a general histo- 
ry, but giving an account of the General Baptist 
churches in the early history of the United States, 
gives us a very clear account of thirty-seven of these 
churches, which were associated together in the same 

bonds of union. 

In Rhode Island, Mr. Knight mentions, "Provi- 
dence, settled in 1637; New Port, in 1656; North 
Kingstown, 1665; South Kingston, 1680; Smitbfield, 
1706; Sictuat, 1725; Warwick, 1725; Richmond, 

1725; Cumberland, ; East Greenwich, 1743; 

Fulling Mill, 2nd., 1785 ; "Gloucester or Burrilville, 
1749; Cranston, 1764; Coventry, 1768; Foster, 
1780; Gloucester, 2nd., 1780; Cranston, 2nd., 1816; 

In Massachusetts, Dartmoth, 1684; Swansea, 1693; 

Rehobath, 1732; Rehobath, 2nd., 1753; Cheshire, 

1771; Lanesbourough, 1772; Rehobath, 3rd., 1789; 
Springfield, 1796. 



116 EARLY HISTORY 

In Connecticut, Groten, 1705 ; New London, 1625; 
Thompson, 1750. 

In New York, New York City, 1724; Otsego, 
1792; Amsterdam, 1807; Deuryter, 1811; Willitt, 
1823: Brookfield, 1810. 

In Pennsylvania, Abbington, 1821. 

In Vermont, Shaftsborough, 1768. 

In Virginia, Burley, 1715; Surry, 1725. 

Mr. Knight then mentions eighteen churches in 
North Carolina, an account of which will be given at 
another time. 

Those early churches began to associate themselves 
together in a yearly meeting, about the close of the 
sixteenth centjry, and as early as 1729 it consisted 
of twelve churches and eighteen ordained ministers 
and two hundred and fifty communicants. 

Mr. Backus, in his history, says that John Comer, 
who was a member of this yearly meeting, and who 
had a manuscript history of those people, represents 
that all of those eighteen ministers held to general 
atonement. 

Mr. Benedict agrees with Mr. Backus and believes 
that they were all of the General persuasion, and 
Mr. Knight bears these authors out in this belief. 
All of those writers had access to Mr. Comer's man- 
uscript. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 117 

"Besides these," says Mr. Knight, " There were 
at that time but four Baptist churches in New Eng- 
land : viz , one in Boston, one in Swansen, and one 
in Newport, that held to the Calvinistic doctrine, and 
one in Westerly, and a few persons in New Port call- 
ed Sabbatarian Baptists." 

In 1769 they concluded to alter the name of their 
yearly meeting, and call it an Association, but made 
no change in the rules or regulations. At this date 
the Association ' ' consisted of the folio wing churches, 
viz : Providence, New Port, Swansea, North Kings- 
town, Richmond, Dartmoth, Rehobath, Groton, 
New London, Smithfield, Scituate, Warwick, South 
Kingston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Groton, 
Coventry, and perhaps some others." 

These churches are represented by Mr. Knight, as 
being in a prosperous condition from 1764 until 1774 
or until about the beginning of the trouble that 
caused the Revolutionary war, on account of 
which the annual Association ceased to meet. How- 
ever, about the same time, 1774, "a number of El- 
ders and Messengers, delegated from said churches, 
met in General Conference, at Elder Samuel Win- 
son's meeting house, in Johnston, and agreed to con- 
stitute and form themselves into a semi-annual Gener- 
al Meeting. " Most of said churches appointed del- 



118 EARLY HISTORY 

egates and united with them, and in a short time 
this Yearly Meeting numbered about fourteen church- 
es." In 1788 they agreed to hold but one General 
Meeting in each year. In 1802 the Yearly Meeting 
consisted of twenty-one churches. In 1807 they or- 
ganized Amsterdam church, in New York. 

The prosperity of these people in New York, was 
so great that in 1813 they were set off into a new As- 
sociation or Conference. 

Mr. Benedict, in speaking of these people, page, 
508, says : 

" It is now (1813) eighty-four years since this great 
Association, as it was then esteemed, was held. Very 
considerable changes have taken place in most of 
the churches of which it was then composed, but the 
same body, on the same plan of doctrine and disci- 
pline, still exist under the name of the Rhode Island 
Yearly Meeting. This meeting, on account of its 
making the laying on of hands, a term of commu- 
nion and its inclination to the Arminian system of 
doctrines has no connection with any of the neigh- 
boring churches. It contains thirteen churches, 
twelve ministers and over eleven hundred members; 
eight of these churches are in this State, (Rhode Is- 
land) the others are in Massachusetts and New York." 

It appears that at the organization of the semi- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 119" 

annual yearly meeting, in 1774, that not all of the 
churches united with them. Providence now (1871) 
belongs to the old Warren Association. At just what 
time she united with that body I am not prepared to 
say, and of the other thirty-six churches of which 
Mr. Knight gives us an account, eleven had then 
(1827) become extinct. Four others were then in a 
very low state, two had become Calvanistic, and one 
had gone to the Free Will Baptists, which, in 1827, 
would leave them eighteen working churches. This 
old body is now (1882) still extant. 

It appears that about the time of the organization 
of this semi general meeting, in 1774, that some of 
the churches had become so strenuous and presistant 
in the doctrine of laying on of hands, that they made 
it a barrier to the communion. 

In 1771 the Richmond church entered into an 
agreement not to commune with or admit any mem- 
bers that did not hold strictly to the doctrine of lay- 
ing on of hands on the newly baptized." Knight, 
page 263. 

When this old body or yearly meeting had become 
so strenuous in this doctrine as to plunge herself into 
close- communion, Mr. Bachus says, on pages 414 
and 415: 

"The churches v\ T hich held to mixed (or open) 
communion began a yearly meeting in 1785, under 



120 EARLY HISTORY 

the name of the Groton Conference, and it now 
(1795) includes the Baptist churches of Dartmoth, 
New Bedford, two in Rehobath, two in North Kings- 
town, one in South Kingston, New Shoreham, two in 
Westerly and one in each of the towns of Groton, 
Stonington, Lyon, Saybrook, Sutton, Preston and 
Canterbury, extending over part of three States." 

In 1785 a majority of the Groton Association; con- 
sisting of about forty churches, located in Connecti- 
cut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, held to open 
communion and general atonement. But the pres- 
sure was so great from the restrictive brethren that 
most of them afterward limited their communion to 
members of regular Baptist churches. From that 
time to the present the close-communion party have 
zealously pushed their sentiments while the liberal 
have inclined to make concessions for the sake of 
union and peace. As a consequence, the restrictive 
party absorbed ' ' almost the entire element of liberal 
or open-communion Baptists." 

But the leaven has been constantly working and 
now the major part of the Baptists in this country be- 
lieve that Christ made an atonement for all men ; that 
man is endowed with the power of choice, and is 
under obligations to choose life and live. On the 
communion question they are greatly changed. Very 
few churches make an occasional communion of 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 121 

their members with Pedo-Baptists a disciplinary of- 
fense; many of them quietly admit Pedo Baptists to 
to the Lord's Supper in their churches, hundreds of 
their ministers give no invitation to the Supper be- 
cause they regard an invitation to those of the same 
faith and order as an unwarranted exclusion of others. 
A respectable and an increasing number of ministers 
are open communionists." Baptist Union, January 
14, 1873. 

We have given the above to show that notwith- 
standing nearly all of the early churches or organiza- 
tions of General Baptists in America have been ab- 
sorbed by the Calvinistic and Close Communion 
Baptists that our principles of liberty have not been 
lost. But to-day the great majority of the Baptists 
in America are teaching the doctrine of a general 
atonement, which doctrine, in the early history of 
the English Baptists was the distinguishing features 
between the General and Particular or Calvinistic 
Baptists, and that open communion, which was the 
practice of the earliest Baptist churches in America, 
is a fundamental principle of General Baptists every- 
where at the present time, and the increasing ten- 
dency in the whole Baptist family in America, to 
open communion is such, at this time, that if each 
individual church influenced by the ministry was al- 
7 



122 EARLY HISTORY 

lowed a vote on this question an overwhelming ma- 
jority, would decide in favor of open communion. 

The Rev. J. D. Beugless in an address "delivered 
at the opening of the Central Association of Baptists 
at Buffalo, New York, August 27th, 1872," on "Fun- 
damental Baptist Principles and their History." In 
speaking in reference to the "Groton Union Asso- 
ciation," of which we have been speaking he says : 

"From these churches there migrated a large num- 
ber of Baptist families and settled in Western New 
York, where they have ever since steadfastly main- 
tained their glorious principles of religious liberty, 
fellowshiping at the Table of the Lord all those 
who have fellowship with Christ, their Head, regard- 
less of difference on questions not absolutely essen- 
tial to salvation." 

Since the above article appeared in the Golden 
Rule, in the spring of 1881, some exceptions have 
been taken to my statement in regard to the Free 
Communion Baptists being the direct descendants of 
of the Old General Baptists in New England. Since 
then I have taken considerable pains to look into this 
matter and I am thoroughly convinced that my pre- 
vious statements are correct. 

It will be observed that the Groton Union Confer- 
ence was originally organized on the open commu- 
nion element of the Old General Baptists of New 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 123 

England, and that the two churches at Westerly, 
Rhode Island, and the one at Stonington, Connecti- 
cut, were members of that Association, and Mr. A. 
D. Williams, D. D., author of the Memorials of the 
Free Communion Baptists, fully corroborates my 
statement. In speaking in reference to their origin, 
page 20-21, he says : 

"Near the middle of the eighteenth century a 
church was organized in the town of Westerly, Rhode 
Island, and on the hill above the present village of 
Westerly, for a long time better known as ' Pawca- 
tuck Bridge.' The church was really Baptist, but its 
members so strongly sympathized with the Separates 
that its first Pastor, Oliver Babcock, was ordained 
April 4th, 1750, by David Sprague, a Baptist Minis- 
ter, in connection with Solomon Paine, a Pedo-Bap- 
tist or Separate Minister." 

Now, it must be remembered, that David Sprague 
belonged to the General Baptists at that time, but as 
a Pedo-Baptist Minister, assisted at the ordination, 
this does not exactly prove my point. 

But you will bear in mind that Benajah Corpe, 

who was the founder of the Free Communion Bap- 
tists, was a member of the General Baptist church at 
Westerly, Rhode Island, and moved to Stephentown, 
New York, probably, about 1780, and began to 
preach, and through his influence a number were 



124 EARLY HISTORY 

converted and desired to be organized into a church. 
Accordingly, Elder Simeon Crandall, who was Pas- 
tor of the Stonington church, in Connecticut, which 
was a General Baptist church, together "with a mem- 
ber of Elder Babcock's church, (in Westerly, Rhode 
Island,) being sent from their churches from home," 
did, on the 13th of September, 1783, organize the 
first Free Communion Baptist church in New York. 
And about two years after, or October 15th, 1785, 
this same Elder, Simeon Crandall, and an Elder 
Davis, from the Stonington church, in Connecticut, 
ordained Elder Corpe. See Memorials of Free Com- 
munion Baptists, pp. 26-53. 

These facts are also fully corroborated by Mr. 
Bachus, and the Rev. J. D. Bengless. 

Mr. Williams, in his Memorials of the Free Com- 
munion Baptists, does not seem to fully comprehend 
the fact that the Westerly and Stonington churches 
were General Baptist churches, and says : 

"An impression somewhat extensively prevails in 
New York that the Stonington and Westerly church- 
es were 'Free-WiHers.' It is, however, sufficiently 
certain that the prevailing sentiment of the churches 
of the Groton Union Conference, including those of 
Westerly and Stonington, were Calvinistic. There 
was, indeed, considerable diversity of belief on this 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 125 

point among individuals, and there were, probably, 
times when a large number, if not a majority, of 
some of the churches were strongly tinctured with 
Arminian sentiments. This appears to have been 
the case with the Westerly, and probably, also, with 
the Stonington church at the time Mr. Corpe moved 
to New York," but he admits that those Arminian 
tenets may have been derived from those Old Gener- 
al Baptist churches. See pp. 23-24. 

It is proper here to state that the probabilities 
amount to almost a certainty, that notwithstanding 
the original churches in the Groton Union Confer- 
ence were General Baptists. That many of the Sep- 
arate or Pedo-Baptist churches, originating from the 
Whitefield revivals, which subsequently became Sep- 
arate Baptist churches and were strongly tinctured 
with Calvinism, also became members of the Groton 
Union Conference, which took pace under the Old 
Union, in 1785, ' ' the basis of which was that the 
preaching of a general atonement or particular re- 
demption should be no bar to fellowship. 

With this explanation the reader can better under- 
stand the condition of affairs in the Graton union 
Conference at the time of the organization of tne 
Free Communion Baptists in New York. 

After Mr. Corpe's ordination, in 1785, he contin- 



126 EARLY HISTORY 

ued faithfully preaching the gospel, the church con- 
tinued to grow and other ministers were ordained, 
such as Nicholas Northrup, March 20th, 1793 ; Geo. 
Elliot, February 6th, 1794; Cary Rogers, April 9th, 
1795; John Howard, December 3d, 1795; John 

Strait, ; Thomas Tolman, (who had been a 

soldierf in Burgoyne's army and may be termed the 
somnambulistic preacher, because he sometimes 
preached in his sleep), October, 1796, and John Wil- 
son, 1797 ; And, says Mr. Williams : 

' 'We have now reached what may be regarded as 
the close of the first period in the history of the de- 
nomination. It has existed about thirteen years and 
a half and consists of seven ministers, nine churches, 
with one, and only one, house of worship, the ' Log 
Meeting House,' of the third Stephentown church, 
and probably about five hundred communicants." 

"Hitherto everything had centered at Stephen- 
town. But a change soon took place. New and 
modifying influences arose and additional, and some- 
what different characteristics were developed." See 
William's Mem., pp. 82-83. 

In 1802, these people engaged in a great revival, 
and another in 1808, and another in 1812. Other 
ministers of influence had been raised up among them 
and they began to hold yearly meetings as early as 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 127 

1802 and probably earlier, and in 1825 they had two 
yearly meetings. In 1835 they organized a General 
Conference. In the meantime churches had been 
planted in Pennsylvania and Canada, and consider- 
able prosperity followed the labors of the whole fra- 
ternity. Many drawbacks and discouragements to 
some extent retarded their progress, but still they 
moved forward and success followed their labors. In 
1820 these people numbered 1400. In 1840 they 

numbered about 3000. Mr. Williams says : 

' ' Considering that this denomination in the then 

wilderness country, and that its ministers had none of 
them enjoyed the advantages of the schools or of 
any considerable culture, this is a gratifying result, 
and manifests that it possessed many elements of 
christian vigor and efficiency." 

You will observe that this was fifty-seven years 
after their first church was organized. If these re- 
sults were gratifying to our Free Communion Bap- 
tist brethren, it certainly ought to be a matter of 
great encouragement to General Baptists to know that 
just fifty-seven years after the organization of their 
first church they number nearly 13,000 members. 

Mr. Williams, speaking further of these members, 
says: 

• " Neither was there any one of these ministers es- 
pecially endowed as an organizer or a leader. They 
led men to God and organized churches." 



128 EARLY HISTORY 

But there was no one who had the peculiar gifts to 
use these materials of denominational power in the 
most effective way. One man, gifted, especially, as 
a master builder, would have made the denomination 
occupy a much larger place in the public eye, and 
would have led it forward to become a much larger 
numerical and actual force." 

But about this time (1840) these people began to 
take advanced steps in education, and in a few years 
after, or in 1844, established Whitstown Seminary, 
which has proved of incalculable value to the Free 
Baptist cause in the United States. They also soon 
after engaged in mission enterprises and assisted in 
sending the first Free Will Baptist missionary to the 
heathen. After a correspondence of several years, 
the Free Baptists united with the Free Will Baptists 
(North) in October, 1841, while the general confer- 
ence was in session at Topsham, Mass.; and, says 
Mr. Williams: 

" Since that time, these Free or Free Communion 
Baptists have remained a contented part of the Free 
Will Baptist denomination, and nearly all (except his- 
torical) traces of their separate origin and denomina- 
tional life have long since disappeared. These people 
engage in supporting all the general enterprises of the 
Free Will Baptists, and at the same time cultivate 
their own distinctive field where they first planted 
churches." 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 129 

We have been informed that the Free Communion 
Baptist element now constitute about one-half of the 
Free Will Baptists' general conference. Rev. G. H. 
Ball, D.D., of Buffalo, N. Y.; Rev. Ransom Dunn, 
Professor of Biblical Theology in Hillsdale college, 
Mich., and Dr. Bates, President of Ridgeville, col- 
lege, Ind., are representative men of the Free Com- 
munion Baptists. I mention these names because 
they are well known to General Baptists in the West, 
having been among us several times. Dr. Ball is a 
recognized champion of religious liberty. Rev. A. 
B. Miller, D.D., of Evansville, Ind., a Close Com- 
munion Baptist, is the only man of that faith bold 
enough to meet Dr. Ball in open discussion on the 
communion question. In that discussion Dr. Ball 
has given the Open Communion Baptists weapons 
sufficient to put the enemy to flight upon any ground 
they may chance to meet. I have mentioned these 
facts to show that when the old Rhode Island yearly 
meeting ceased to "maintain those glorious principles 
of religious liberty," the liberal element was drawn 
together into the Groton Association, and when that 
body suffered itself to be driven into close commu- 
nion its direct descendants came forth in New York 
under the name of Free Communion Baptists, and 
are now a growing and an influential people, whose 
power is becoming very great throughout the United 
States. 



130 EARLY HISTORY 

We have shown that the first Baptist churches in 
America were General Baptists; that the Groton con- 
ference was organized from the old Rhode Island 
yearly meeting, and that the Free Communion Bap- 
tists, as they exist to-day, are the direct descendants 
of the Groton conference. 

We now turn to the history of the General Bap- 
tists in Maryland, Virginia, North and South Caro- 
lina. We will begin with the church at Chestnut 
Ridge, in Maryland. It was founded this wise: 
Henry Saytor, a layman, who belonged to the Gen- 
eral Baptists in England, came to America in 1709 
and settled in the northern part of Maryland. He 
soon ' ' invited Baptist ministers to preach in his 
house, by which means a few, from time to time, were 
proselyted to his sentiments. Among the ministers 
who officiated with this infant community as pastor, 
or supplies, in early times, were George Eaglesfield, 
of Pennsylvania ; Paul Palmer, whose name will ap- 
pear among the General Baptists in North Carolina; 
Henry Loveall, and probably others." 

All of these ministers were probably won over to 
the General Baptists through the influence of Mr. 
Saytor, for we find that Mr. Eaglesfield was preach- 
ing to the first Baptist church in Philadelphia in 
1723-4. Paul Palmer must have belonged, at one 
time, to the old Welsh Track church, in Delaware, 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 131 

for he was baptized at that church by Owen Thomas, 
pastor thereof. Elder Palmer was ordained in Con- 
necticut; was some time in New Jersey; then in 
Maryland, and then went to North Carolina, where 
he spent a useful life. 

The covenant of the church at Chestnut Ridge 
was as follows: 

"We, the humble professors of the gospel of 
Christ, baptized upon a declaration of faith and re- 
pentance, believing the doctrine of general redemp- 
tion (or of the free grace of God extended to all 
mankind). * * * And further, we do bind our- 
selves to follow the pattern of our brethren in Eng- 
land to maintain order, government and discipline 
in our church, especially that excellent directory of 
Rev. Francis Stanley, entitled, 'The Gospel Honor 
and Church Ornament, dedicated to the churches in 
the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham and Cam- 
bridge'." 

This church was not constituted until 1742. Paul 
Palmer first baptized nine persons. Afterwards came 
Henry Loveall and baptized forty-eight more and con- 
stituted a church. This church increased very fast, 
and began to spread over the country, and soon ex- 
tended over to Opeckon and Ketockton, Virginia, 
insomuch that in four years the number of communi- 
cants amounted to 181." 



132 EARLY HISTORY 

In this state of prosperity Mr. Loveall was found 
to be of unsound character, and the church gradu- 
ally went down. Mr. Saytor, who may be consid- 
ered the founder of this church, bore an excellent 
character and was a very liberal supporter of the 
gospel. 

The church at Opeckon, or Mill Creek, was con- 
stituted in 1743, and originated from the General 
Baptist church at Chestnut Ridge, whose history has 
just been given. This church was finally absorbed 
by the Calvinistic Baptists. 

We will now notice one church in Massachusetts — 
the second in Boston, which was founded on this 
wise: 

"In 1794, Mr. Healy and wife, Matthew Heuse 
and wife, Wm. Lynes and wife — all members of the 
General Baptist church of Friar Lane, Leicester, 
England — having resolved to go to America, cov- 
enanted together before they departed, to remain to- 
gether as a religious society. They reached New 
York, October, 1794, and remained there until in 
the spring of 1795. Then they went to Boston, 
where they commenced meeting, and in 1797 they 
built a house of worship 40x27. Like many others, 
their church was finally swallowed by Calvinistic 
Baptists." 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 133 



GENERAL BAPTISTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 

We find an account of only one General Baptist 
church in South Carolina. About 1733 a number of 
members withdrew from the Charleston church, and 
constituted a General Baptist church at Stono. In 
1736 they sent to England, and secured Rev. Robt. 
Ingraham for pastor. Henry Haywood, from Farn- 
ham, near London, was their second pastor Daniel 
Wheeler was the nex\ Caleb Evans was their 
fourth. This church continued for about fifty years 
and then became extinct. The account of the Gen- 
eral Baptists in Maryland, Massachusetts and South 
Carolina has been taken almost entirely from Mr. 
Benedict's histories. 

We will now begin with the General Baptists in 
Virginia and North Carolina, and show a continued 
line of succession down to the present time. On 
pages 316-17 of Mr. Knight's history, he says: 

"It appears that as early as the close of the 16th 
century (or about 1700), a number of General Bap- 
tists emigrated from England and settled in and about 
Burly, in the county of the Isle of Wight, in the 
State of Virginia. These formed themselves into a 
band, but being destitute of a teacher, they sent a re- 



134 EARLY HISTORY 

quest to England, about the beginning of the 17th 
century for assistance in the ministry, whereupon the 
English General Baptists called and ordained to the 
ministerial office Robert Noron and Thomas 
White,' in London, to come over and labor among 
the people. They, soon after their ordination, start- 
ed for America. Elder White died on his passage 
out, but Elder Norton landed in America in the au- 
tumn of 1714, and commenced his ministerial labors 
with them at Burly. 

Elder Nordin's labors were blessed in that quarter 
and a flourishing church was soon formed at Burly. 
He exercised his functions as their pastor, with zeal, 
activity and usefulness, for about twelve years, and 
the church increased under his care until death called 
him to his reward, in consequence of which they 
were left destitute of an administrator, and again 
sent their solicitations to England for assistants, who 
sent to their aid Elders Casper Ments and Richard 
Jones, who arrived at Burly in 1728. Elder Jones 
was installed their pastor, and Elder Ments went into 
the county of Surry and gathered a church where a 
number of the Burley members then resided. These 
churches continued to increase and there are traces of 
other churches having been formed in those parts. " 

Mr. Benedict, on page 642, of his new work says : 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 135 

"Both of these ministers were living in 1756, as 
appears by a letter which this church sent, at that 
time, to the Philadelphia Association." 

But owing to "a wasting pestilence" in that sec- 
tion of country which carried off many of the mem- 
bers of this church and in 1742 caused many to leave 
and emigrate to North Carolina. This church was so 
enfebled that it never recovered its former strength 
and finally become extinct, but in what way I can- 
not tell. 

This now brings us to consider the history of the 
General Baptists in North Carolina. Morgan Ed- 
wards says that there were some Baptist families in 
North Carolina, as early as 1695. Knight says the 
General Baptists were there in 1690. It is certain,, 
however that Paul Palmer organized the Perquimons 
church on the Chowan river towards the northeast 
corner of the State, in 1727, and "on account of 
the wasting pestilence " in Virginia, referred to 
above, "William Sojourner, who is said to have been 
a most excellent man and useful minister, removed, 
with many of his brethren, from Burly, in Virginia^ 
and settled on Kehukee Creek, in North Carolina, in 
which quarter, it appears, there had existed church- 
es of the same denomination from 1690 up to 1742, 
and that these societies and those in Virginia, had 
formed themselves into a yearly meeting as early as 



186 EARLY HISTORY 

1720 and Paul Palmer, one of their ministers, in- 
formed John Comer, of Newport, of their yearly 
meeting, as early as 1729* 

In North Carolina the General Baptists increased 
very rapidly and in a few years after the removal of 
those from Burly to Kehukee Creek, there were sixteen 
flourishing churches in that quarter. The zealous 
labors of their ministers, Elders Paul Palmer, Jos. 
Parker, William Sojourner and many others among 
them contributed much to their prosperity and in- 
crease, for many years." 

These churches are represented by Knight, Benedict 
and others, as increasing and prospering until about 
1765, when most of them were transformed into a 
Calvinistic Baptist Association. However, some of 
these churches were not transformed until 1794, and 
some few of them never yielded to the proselyting 
influences of the transforming element, but main- 
tained their principles and gradually added other 
churches and their unbroken lineage is in existence 
in North Carolina at this time, (1882) as will be 
shown hereafter. 

We have before us a history of these people after 
they were transformed into the Kehukee Association of 
Regular Baptists and subsequently took the name of 
United Baptists. This history was written by Elder 
Daniel Burkitt and Jesse Read. The former was 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 137 

clerk of the Association for thirty years. I doubt 
not that these authors were faithful in writing the his- 
tory of this body of people after 1765. But it is 
lamentably plain that they studiously avoided record- 
ing a satisfactory account of these churches which 
had been organized since 1690 or seventy-five years 
previous to their transformation into a Regular or Cal- 
vinistic Baptist Association. But we are thankful 
for what little information they have given us respect- 
ing their origin. Here is what Burkitt and Read 

have to say concerning those churches : 

"Some of the churches which at first composed 

the Kehukee Association were the church atToisnot, 
in Edgecomb county, the church at Kehukee, in 
Halifax county, the church on Fishing Creek, in Hal- 
ifax county, the church at the falls of Tar river, in 
Edgecomb county, the church on Reedy Creek, in 
Warren county, the church at Sandy Run, in Bertie 
county, and the church in Camden county, in North 
Carolina. The most of these churches, before they 
were ever united in an Association, were General 
Baptists and held with the Arminian tenets. We 
believe they were the descendants of the English 
General Baptists, because we find from some original 
papers that their confession of faith was subscribed by 
certain Elders and Deacons and brethren in behalf 



138 EARLY HISTORY 

of themselves and others to whom they belonged, 
both in London and several counties in England, 
and was presented to King Charles II." upon his as- 
sention to the throne. 

This was the confession of 1660, presented by El- 
ders Thomas Grantham and J. Wright, and is that 
after which the articles of faith of the General Bap- 
tists as organized by Elder Benoni Stinson and others 
in southern Indiana, are modled. Burkitt and 
Read further say : 

" They preached and adhered to the Arminian or 
Free-Will doctrines and their churches were first es- 
tablished upon this system * * * * 
The churches of this order were first gathered here 
by Elder Paul Palmer and Joseph Parker, and were 
succeeded by a number of ministers whom they had 
baptized." 

We can not learn that it was customary with them 
to hold an Association at all, but met at yearly meet- 
ings where matters of consequence were determined. 

"This was the state of these churches until Divine 
Providence disposed the Philadelphia Baptist Associa- 
tion to send Messrs. Vanhorn and Miller, two ministers 
belonging to that Association and lived in New Jer- 
sey to travel into the Southern colonies and visit the 
churches and preach the gospel. When they came to 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 139 

North Carolina some of the members belonging to 
these churches seemed to be afraid of them. * * 
But by the greatest part of the churches they were 
cordially received." 

We do not wonder at those General Baptists ap- 
pearing shy at the appearance of those Calvinistic 
Baptists, for it has ever been the work of these breth- 
ren to follow closely after the General Baptists with 
their intensely proselyting spirit, until the time has 
been, when the liberal element was almost entirely 
absorbed. But the principles of General Baptists are 
founded upon Freedom and Liberty, and though 
held in check for a while, will come forth with re- 
newed energy and vigor. Though transformed in 
Virginia and North Carolina, in 1765, they burst 
forth in New England, in 1780, under the name of 
Free-Will Baptists, headed by Elder Benjamin Ran- 
dal, and in Western New York, about the same time, 
under the name of Free Communion Baptists, led on 
by Elder Benijah Corp, and in Southern Indiana, in 
1823, under the leadership of Elder Benoni Stinson, 
under the name General Baptists. 

Burkitt and Read have the following, in regard to 
to the ministers who went into the Kehukee Associa- 
tion: 

1 ' The principal ministers which belonged to the 



140 EARLY HISTORY 

Association, on its first establishment, were Elders 
Jonathan Thomas, John Thomas, John Moore, John 
Burgess, William Burgess, Charles Daniel, William 
Walker, John McClamer, James Abington, Thomas 
Pope and Henry Abbot, all of whom, except Elders 
John McClamer and James Abington, we believe, 
were baptized by ministers of the Free-Will order." 

The reader will observe that these authors use the 
names General and Free-Will interchangeably. We 
find on pp. 234-35 of Burkitt and Read's history, the 
following account of the Reedy Creek church, above 
referred to: 

' ' Dr. Josiah Hart was the first preacher of the 
Baptist pursuasion, who preached here. He came 
about the year 1750 and preached, and baptized soon 
after, William Washington, James Smith, Samuel 
Davis, William Walker, and others joined in the 
work of preaching and baptizing all, upon what is 
called the Free-Will plan, and many came and were 
baptized. William Walker was chosen from among 
the rest and called their pastor. Things went on 
thus until 1755. In May, of that year, Elder John 
Gano, from the North, visited this place and seeing 
the situation of affairs, probably represented the case, 
on his return, to the Philadelphia Association, who, 
the fall following, delegated Elder Peter Peterson 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 141 

Vanhorn and Benjamin Miller to attend and settle 
churches upon the doctrine of Free Grace and ac- 
cording to the Gospel order." 

This took place ten years before the Kehukee As- 
sociation was organized or transformed. 

On page 298, of Burkitt and Read's history, we 
find the following, in reference to the "church on 
Muddy Creek, Duplin county, North Carolina. Elder 
Jobe Thigpen moved into the neighborhood in the 
year 1781. At that time there were none of the 
Baptist Society in these parts, only himself and his 
wife. He had then just began to preach a little more 
than one year bofore and it appeared that the Lord 
blessed his labors insomuch that a considerable num- 
ber were brought to the knowledge of the truth and 
by him were baptized* But as he was a minister of 
the Free-Will order, and the members received on 
that plan, it was thought advisable for the church to 
come under re-examination. Accordingly help was 
called for, who were Elder Robert Nixon and others. 
The members in this place were received into fellow- 
ship with the Particular Baptist churches, and finally 
in 1793 united with the Kehukee Association. 

''Thus by means of those ministers, who visited 
the churches, several were reformed and the work of 
reformation progressed until the greater part of what 



142 EARLY HISTORY 

few churches were gathered in North Carolina, both 
ministers and members came into the Regular Baptist 
order. 

"Elder Palmer, we believe, died before the reform- 
ation took place, and Elder Joseph Parker, we can- 
not learn, was ever convinced of his errors or reced- 
ed from them but continued in his way, and we cannot 
understand that he was very successful, because all 
the ministers of that party were brought over to em- 
brace the Calvinistic scheme, except Elder Winfield 
and Elder William Parker, and, we presume, but a 
few either ministers or members except the members 
of their churches." 

The churches here referred to, we have no partic- 
ular account of except 

"The church onMeheren, Hartford county, North 
Carolina. This church was originally gathered and 
constituted on the Free-Will plan. Elders Joseph Par- 
ker, William Parker, Winfield and others of that or- 
der, frequently preached here." 

Elder William Parker was preaching to this church 
in 1773 and probably continued until about 1793, 
for he died about that time, after which Elder Bur- 
kitt preached for them for some time. Finally, in 
1794, being left destitute of a pastor of their own or- 
der, they, too, were pursuaded to come under re- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 143 

examination and united with the Kehukee Associa- 
tion. Burkitt and Read have had a good deal to 
say about "reformation and re-examination" and the 
lamentable condition of these General Baptists. 

There is no question in my mind but what the 
General Baptists, about whom we have been writing, 
had become somewhat indifferent and remiss in duty, 
but the charge that they did not require a change of 
heart, or conversion or regeneration, before baptism, 
is not well enough authenticated to bear scrutiny, 
from the fact that, with only one or two exceptions, 
all of their members were received into the Kehukee 
Association of Regular Baptists upon their baptism, 
and their ministers on their baptism and ordination, 
and it would seem a little strange that a people who 
had only the form of godliness, without the power, 
could become true and genuine Christians by the 
simple avowal of a belief in the doctrines advocated 
by the Calvinistic Baptists. And yet this was the 
manner in which most all of those unconverted Gen- 
eral Baptists, as they were termed, were received 
into the Regular Baptist church. " Oh ! Consist- 
ency, thou art a jewel." 

We have traced the General Baptists of North Car- 
lina down to 1765, when most of their yearly meeting 
were transformed into the Kehukee Association of 



144 EARLY HISTORY 

Regular Baptists. We have also seen that the church 
at Meheren continued under the pastoral care of Eld. 
William Parker until about 1793, at which time he 
died, and that through the influence of Elder Daniel 
Burkitt, a Regular Baptist, that church was also in- 
duced to unite with the Regular Baptists. Burkitt 
and Read refer to some other churches under the 
care of Elders Joseph Parker, William Parker and 
Winfried that did not yield to the transforming ele- 
ment. 

Concerning those few churches, Rev. I. D. Stew- 
art, author of the History of the Free Will Baptists, 
says: 

" I wrote the History of the Free Will Baptists and 
have now looked up the correspondence, and find 
that the letter sent by Elder Buzzle to Rev. J* Heath, 
April 23, 1627, was not published in the Star, but an 
allusion to it. Bro. Heath wrote, May 29, 1827, and 
it was published June 28. He speaks of the people 
in North Carolina, and the Free Baptist faith and 
practice. He says they have a 'book of discipline.' 
Buzzle's letter was printed with the minutes of that 
year. He says : " Twenty-five years ago (1807, only 
thirteen years after the transformation of the Meheren 
church) when I first came to the ministry, there were 
but three ministers and five churches. Number of 
members now, about 800; leading ministers, Frede 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 145 

ick Fonville, Isaac Pipkin, Henry Smith, Levi Brax- 
ton, Nathaniel Lockhart, Reading Moore, Jesse Al- 
pin, Jeremiah Heath, Jere. Rome, James Moore and 
Robert Pond.' He adds, the ministers are 'all men 
of families, of little property, and not a single scholar 
among us'." 

On December 13th the Star speaks of another let- 
ter from Jesse Heath. Nineteen ministers attended 
the last conference, recently held, and about as many 
churches represented by letter. Refreshing revivals. 
He said Buzzle's letter to him was laid before confer- 
ence, and "every part of it approved." Thirteen 
copies of the Morning Star were taken in-North Car- 
olina in December, 1827. 

The above letter is of very great importance in es- 
tablishing a connection between the four churches of 
the old General or original Free Will Baptist that es- 
caped the transformation and continued steadfast in 
their original doctrines, and the present original Free 
Will Baptists in North Carolina. 

The reader will bear in mind that in 1807, when 
Elder Jesse Heath, became a minister among the 
General Baptists in North Carolina, that this was only 
thirteen years after the Meheren church, of which 
Elder William Parker had been pastor for many years 
previous to his death, had been absorbed, and these 
people then claimed to be the direct descendants of 



146 EARLY HISTORY 

the English General Baptists as organized by Elders 
Paul Palmer, Joseph Parker, William Parker, William 
Sojourner and others; and Elder R. K. Hearn, who 
is now (1881) one of their old ministers and editor of 
"The Free Will Baptist," published at Free Mount, 
North Carolina, dates their origin to the same begin- 
ning. Elder Hearn wrote a sketch of the ''Origin 
of the Free Will Baptist church in North Carolina," 
and published it in the "Toisnot Transcript," edited 
at Toisnot, N. C. This sketch commenced May 20, 
1875, and closed June 17, of the same year. In re- 
gard to the correctness of these articles, Elder E. R. 
Ellis, the editor, gives the following : 

"We begin this week the publication of the ' Ori- 
gin of the Free Will Baptist church in North Caro- 
lina,' by Elder R. K. Hearn. This is the most truth- 
ful account we have of the origin of the church in 
North Carolina, and doubtless it will be read with 
much interest by a great many members of the 
church. Elder Hearn is fully competent to write the 
history of the church, and we would be pleased if he 
would undertake the task, of publishing it in book 
form." 

Bro. Hearn does not intend publishing a book, and 
we have his consent to use these articles in our work. 
The first of these are substantially the same as given 
by us, but we prefer giving Bro. Hearn's articles en- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 147 

tire, for they are very valuable testimony, coming, as 
they do, from an old and respected father of our 
brethren in North Carolina. These articles clear up 
the obscurities of the history of those people, and 
set forth, in a clear and satisfactory light, that which 
for a long time has been a matter of conjecture to us 
in the West. It will be more interesting when we 
tell you that the different branches of these people in 
North Carolina and other Southern States amount to 
near 10,000 communicants. 



ORIGIN OF THE FREE WILL BAPTIST 
CHURCH OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



BY R. K. HEARN. 



I now make the feeble attempt, as I promised a 
few weeks ago, to show by whom the Free Will Bap- 
tists of North Carolina were organized. The account 
will be very imperfect, owing to our forefathers hav- 
ing kept no record of the proceedings, and as all the 
facts concerning the Free Will Baptists that we can 
get are derived from our enemies and tradition. 

The limited circumstances and education of the 
writer — I say limited circumstances, because I have 
to work hard and have no time to read or write only 
of a night, after my day's labor is finished, precludes 
a thorough examination. 

Sometime in the year 1727, a minister by the name 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 149 

of Paul Palmer, a native of Maryland, moved to 
North Carolina and settled at a place called Perqui- 
mans, on Chowan river. Mr. Palmer commenced 
preaching, and the same year organized a church at 
that place. Mr. Palmer was called General or Lib- 
eral Baptist, in opposition to the Particular Baptist. 
According to Mr. Benedict, he was baptized at Welsh 
Tract, in Delaware, by Owen Thomas, the pastor of 
the church in that place ; was ordained in Connecti- 
cut, then went to New Jersey, then back to Maryland 
— his native State — and then to North Carolina, 
where he gathered the church above mentioned, 
with which he continued until his death. He was 
contemporary with Mr. John Comer, of Newport, 
Rhode Island. Benedict saw a letter written by Pal- 
mer to Comer, dated 1729, stating that the church 
which was gathering there two years before, at that 
time consisted of thirty-two members. Among the . 
first converts of Mr. Palmer was Joseph Parker, who 
soon commenced preaching, and by the labors of 
Mr. Palmer, or Joseph Parker — I am not prepared, 
at this time, to say which — William Parker and a 
Mr. Winfield were raised up to the ministry. I shall 
refer to Elder William Parker again, to prove that we 
sprung from this church, and that this church was the 
first Baptist church in North Carolina. Such is his- 



150 EARLY HISTORY 

tory as recorded by Morgan Edwards, Burkitt, Read, 
Biggs and Benedict; and if I prove that this church 
was our mother, it will prove that we were the first 
Baptist church in North Carolina. This is the rea- 
son why the title page of our book of discipline calls 
us the " Original Baptist Church," holding the doc- 
trine of General Provision, and this is our true name, 
and I will, before I get through, show why we are 
called Free Will Baptists. It is an error that we are 
the same as the Northern Free Will Baptists — as a 
great many may suppose, and, as I suppose, your 
correspondent W. thinks. I do not recollect, at this 
time, when the Northern Free Will Baptist church 
was organized ; but Elder Benjamin Randal, its 
founder, never commenced preaching till 1775 — so 
says his biographer — and our mother church was or- 
ganized in 1727, some forty-seven or forty-eight years 
before. 

Thus I have given an account of the first Baptist 
church in North Cirolina. I will now speak of the 
progress of the church. The ministers that I have 
mentioned, and others who were raised up under 
their ministry, traveled and preached considerably, 
and in the course of a few years organized several 
churches. In the year 1742, William Sojourner, who 
is said to have been a most excellent man and useful 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 151 

minister, removed with many of his brethren from 
Berkley, Virginia, and settled on Kehukee creek, in 
Halifax county. In the same year he planted a 
church in that place, and with the assistance of Pal- 
mer, Parker, Sojourner and other ministers, many 
were added to the church, so that they had by the 
year 1752, increased to sixteen churches. These 
churches had, according to Mr. Benedict, an annual 
interview, or yearly meeting, in which they inspected 
or regulated the general concerns of their commnity. 
These churches enjoyed great prosperity, and in- 
creased in number until about the year 1751, when a 
Mr. Robert Williams, a Calvinistic or Particular 
Baptist minister of Welsh Neck, South Carolina, vis> 
ited some of these churches and preached among, 
them. This was some twenty-four years after the or r 
ganization of the first General Baptist church in 
North Carolina. 

Through the labors of this minister there the com- 
mencement of the breaking up and remodelling of 
the churches, it is. not known whether or not he went 
among them by invitation from some of their mem- 
bers, nor can the extent, character and results of his 
efforts be given, as no record of them has been found. 

William Wallace, a layman, commonly called the 
sleigh maker, also took an active part in the matter,, 
and his conversation and efforts were attended with 



152 



EARLY HISTORY 



considerable success. The time when his labors 
were performed is not named, but probably it was 
some time after the commencement of the mission of 
Rev. Mr. Williams. In the summer of 1754, Rev. 
John Gano was sent by the Philadelphia Association, 
with general and indefinite instructions to travel in 
the Southern States. Under these instructions he 
visited the General Baptist churches in North Caro- 
lina. Morgan Edwards, says Benedict, thus de- 
cribes the visit : 

"Mr. Gano, on his arrival, sent to the ministers, 
requesting an interview with them, which they de- 
clined, and appointed a meeting among themselves 
to consult what to do. Mr. Gano, hearing of it, 
went to their meeting, and addressed them in words 
to this effect : ' I have desired a visit from you, which 
as a brother and a stranger I had a right to expect, 
but as ye have refused, I give up my claim and have 
come to pay you a visit.' With that, he ascended 
into the pulpit and read for his text the following 
words: "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who 
are ye ?" This text he managed in such a way as to 
make some afraid of him and others ashamed of their 
shyness. Many were convinced of error touching 
faith and conversion, and submitted to examination. 

This visit, says Elder Elias Huchings was made 
about two years after Mr. Williams began his prose- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 153 

lyting labors, and it seems evident from Mr. Gano's 
visit, and what followed, that the work was carried on 
in a very zealous manner; and, in some instances, in 
utter disregard of propriety and Christian courtesy. 

The refusal of the ministers to have an interview 
with Mr. Gano, when he requested them to meet 
him, was an act of disrespect towards him; but it is 
presumed that they intended nothing of that nature. 
Their course shows that they were utterly opposed to 
the object of his visit, and they probably refused to 
see him, not on account of intended incivility, but 
through desire to avoid discussion on an unwelcome 
subject with one who possessed abilities far superior 
to theirs. Most ministers, on being regarded and 
treated as intruders, would probably have ceased 
from further effort at proselyting, and departed from 
the place, but Mr. Gano took a different course. He 
went to a meeting of those who, as he well knew, 
had met for consultation, and did not desire his pres- 
ence. Not content with this, he obtrusively entered 
the pulpit and preached a disparaging sermon to the 
dissatisfied and simple-hearted auditors. Being thrown 
into confusion by his great ability and ingenious 
handling of the words of an "evil spirit" as a text, 
they seem to have lost their independence, and 
were made to believe that their doctrine was unsound, 
9 



154 EARLY HISTORY 

and that their hearts were unrenewed. This led 
some of them to renounce their former faith, and to 
receive his opinion of their spiritual state as decisive 
on that subject. Mr. Gano's efforts seem to have 
unsettled the minds of a considerable number of the 
ministers, and finally led to the defection of most of 
the churches and ministers to hyper-Calvinism. On 
his return, he represented what was regarded as 
their deplorable condition to the Association, who 
appointed Messrs. Miller and Vanhorn to complete 
the work of proselyting them. These men engaged 
zealously in the work assigned them, and a great 
change was effected among these people, which, it is 
asserted, consisted not only in reforming their creed 
and purifying their churches, but also in reviving the 
power of godliness among them, and in the awak- 
ening and conversion of many who needed such 
a change. 

What was left unfinished by these two men, was 
zealously carried on by the newly converted minis- * 
ters, who were anxious to lead others to adopt their 
views. The work was prosecuted so energetically, 
that about four years after Robert williams commenc- 
ed his efforts among these people, all the ministers, 
except Elders Joseph and Wm. Parker, and an Elder 
Winfield, and all the churches except those under 
their care, had embraced the views of those who had 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 155 

taken so much pains to convert them to the Calvin- 
istic faith. Thus it is seen, that in some less than 
thirty years after the commencement of their denom- 
inational existence in North Carolina, these people 
were so much scattered that it seemed nearly impos- 
sible for them to survive their calamities, and it was 
feared by the remnant, and hoped by their enemies, 
that such would be their hard lot. 

It has already been stated, that about the year 
1752, some thirteen years before the revolution 
above named was completed, this title branch of Bap- 
tists had increased to sixteen churches. Probably 
some others were organized during the thirteen years 
just named, but if so, no account of them is now to 
be found. Benedict states that the ministers were 
considerably numerous, but their number is not given. 
This unfortunate body of Baptists commenced its ex- 
istence in North Carolina fifty-three years, and was 
mostly absorbed by the Calvinistic Baptist denomina- 
tions twenty-eight years, before the rise of the Free- 
will Baptists at the North. 

The enemies of the Arminian Baptists in North 
Carolina were greatly elated at the revolution, and 
regarded it a great and beneficial change. Indeed, 
Benedict seems to think that, on account of the lax 
views and dicipline of the churches, the innovation, 
or reformation, as they called it, was necessary and 



156 EARLY HISTORY 

useful. But considering the manner in which the 
revolution was brought about, and the unhappy re- 
sult of it, there is much room to doubt the propriety 
of the measure. 

Had the zealous and well-meaning New Lights, as 
the Calvinistic Baptists were then called, been invited 
to visit and remodel these churches, no objection 
could, probably, be made to their course, but going 
among them uninvited to proselyte them, was obtrus- 
ive and provoking. There was surely work enough 
to be done in North Carolina by the Baptist ministers 
without interfering with the few churches who felt 
that they had a right to organizations, and to labor 
unmolested in the fields they entered peaceably and 
had occupied some twenty-five years without molesta- 
tion. 

It is asserted that these churches were so lax in 
their discipline, and held such erroneous views of 
conversion, that they actually needed the revolution 
through which they passed. There is reason to fear • 
that they were negligent in discipline, but in this re- 
spect they seem to have been as well off as the Epis- 
copalians, who were their only religious neighbors 
when the churches were organized. The relation of 
a Christian experience was in no case required as a 
condition of admission to membership in the Episco- 
pal church, and there was nearly or quite as much 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 157 

laxity of discipline in that large and popular sect as 
there was among the General Baptists. 

The Episcopalians were as lukewarm, formal, and 
destitute of the power of godliness as were the Free- 
will Baptists. Why, then, did the energetic New 
Lights pass by this larger body and obtrude them- 
selves upon the weaker? The proselyting of this 
body is justified on the ground that it needed a thor- 
ough renovation. If this view of the case is cor- 
rect, the Philadelphia Baptist Association should have 
looked after the spiritual interests of the Episcopal 
church, as well as after those of a far smaller body. 
Dr. Gano ought to have sent to their leading "min- 
isters, and requested an interview with them;" and 
on their declining, he should have treated them as 
arrogantly as he did this feeble band of Bap- 
tists. Similar efforts should have been made for the 
renovation of these. But nothing of the kind was 
done. Dr. Gano knew full well that the ministers of 
the Episcopal church were his equals in learning and 
talents, and if he attempted such a thing that he 
would more than meet with his match, but as the 
Baptist ministers were men of very limited education, 
he could succed with his powerful eloquence in pros- 
elyting them and their members. 

The divisions and secessions of the Free-Wiil 



158 EARLY HISTORY 

Churches, which were caused by proselyting mem- 
bers of another denomination, left the adhering rem- 
nant in a sad state of discouragement, distraction 
and ill will towards those who were the authors of 
their troubles. Their most active, intelligent and ef- 
ficient ministers and members had seceded and 
were laboring zealously against them. Though a con- 
siderable number of the members retained their orig- 
inal views, and would not go with the seceders, they 
were only the scattered and unorganized remains of 
the churches that had left them. They were not disci- 
plinarians, and were in some sense like fragments of 
a routed and dispirited army after its principal offi- 
cers and soldiers had gone over to the enemy. 

Public opinion was pretty strongly against them, 
as it is often against the weak and unfortunate, they 
were regarded by many as deceived and deceivers in 
regard to the matter of religion ; they were also con- 
sidered as heretics and classed with Universalists. 

A deep seated dislike, amounting almost to abhor- 
rence, was created between the two parties formed 
by this division. Each body regarded the other as 
holding damnable errors — the extremes of Calvinism 
and Arminianism — and each cordially hated the 
tenets of the other. 

To the Arminians the name of New Lights was 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 159 

odious, and the name of the Free-Will was equally 
odious to these. The relation of a few incidents 
may serve as an illustration of the views and feelings 
of these two opposing bodies of Baptists. 

In 1784, as Elder Wm. Parker was reading his 
text, he was stricken with palsy, and falling in the 
pulpit, he is reported as saying : 

" Blessed be God, I have fallen in a good cause." 
His reason then departed to return no more, and 
two or three days afterwards he ' ' breathed out his 
soul into the hands of the Redeemer." So say 
Messrs. Burkitt and Read. 

Some seven years after this incident occurred, a 
Baptist minister, whose name was Frost, "came 
from Europe," (probably from England) and com- 
menced preaching in the Calvinistic Baptist church 
in Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia. He soon 
began to "preach the doctrine of free-will, sup- 
posing, it is alleged, by the New Light writers, that 
man has power to work himself into a state of favor 
with God. A committee was appointed by the 
church to convert him ; failing in this, another was 
chosen to silence him, but with no better success. 

Shortly after that, he went to a place to preach, 
but while reading his text, his voice faltered, he 
cried "let us pray," fell on his knees speechless, 
and died in less than three hours. 



160 EARLY HISTORY 

Thus, say the historians named above, " did God 
avenge his suffering church in these towns, for the 
fox was spoiling the tender grapes." 

When, in 1812, Elder Joseph Smith died, who 
was the pastor of the church at Pungo River, a Cal- 
vinistic minister asked a colored member of that 
church, ' ' Now your plaster is gone, what will you 
do?" Some twenty years later, several copies of a 
selection of hymns, by Elder John Buzzle, were sold 
to the North Carolina Free-Will Baptists. One of 
the hymns commences as follows : 

' ' Come all who are New Lights indeed, 
Who are from sin and bondage free'd ; 
From Egypt's land we've taken flight, 
For God has given us a New Light." 

The hymn, which commends all New Lights, and 
refers to all true Christians, was read by the purchas- 
ers with grief and almost indignant astonishment. It 
was supposed to be a commendation of that order of 
Baptists who had, nearly three-quarters of a century 
previous to that time, broken up the Free-Will Bap- 
tists; and caused them a great amount of distress, an 
act which they had not forgotten nor forgiven. They 
were pacified only with the assurance that the obnox- 
ious hymn was not a commendation of their New 
Light enemies, but was designed to approve and en- 
courage faithful Christians of all orders. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 161 

At the time of the invasion and the scattering of 
the Free- Will Baptists in North Carolina, the uncharit- 
able, and in many instances malevolent feelings be- 
tween the two bodies were general and mutual, A 
lapse of over one hundred years has somewhat soft- 
ened the acrimony of these feelings, but it has not 
eradicated them, for up to this time there is a deep- 
seated dislike of both parties against the other. At 
this distant period, the Free- Will Baptists have heard 
so much of the breaking up of the early churches, 
that they can hardly regard the decendants of those 
that did it as Christians, and were but little disposed to 
fraternize with them. The views of the two sects in 
regard to doctrines and church building, are nearly as 
variant as at the commencement of the separation, 
each party being confident that its views were right, 
and those of the other ruinously wrong. 

Had the New Light Baptists been more prudent 
in their zeal to proselyte this people, and sought to ac- 
complish their end in a less overbearing manner, it 
would have prevented much mutual ill-will and also 
a great amount of distress among those whom they 
failed to convert to hyper-Calvinism. 

Burkitt and Read regarded it as very wicked in 
Elder Frost to attempt to proselyte the churches in 
Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia, to his Arminian 
views. Their sympathies were much awakened in 



162 EARLY HISTORY 

behalf of those "distressed" and suffering churches, 
and the sudden death of that minister was consider- 
ed by them an act of Divine interference in their be- 
half. But no pity was felt for the Free- Will Baptist 
churches, which were overwhelmed with confusion 
and distress by the unfraternal efforts of the misguid- 
ed men who subverted them. The long continued 
hatred and contentions which followed subversion, 
leave but little room to doubt that, on the whole, its 
results were more injurious than beneficial to the 
cause of morality and religion. 

But little is known of the church discipline of the 
early Free-Will Baptists in North Carolina, than the 
assertion of their enemies, that it was very negligent. 

The following statement, made, perhaps, twenty- 
five years ago, to Mr. Benedict by Dr. Wheeler, of 
Murfreesboro, North Carolina, probable contains the 
most that can now be learned on the subject, and it 
is much to be regretted that no historical sketches of 
any of these churches can be found, except those 
gathered by Elder Paul Palmer, which is the first 
Baptist church that was organized in the State. As 
this church was organized in 1727, the rec- 
ords named below stopped thirty-one years short of 
its comme.: cement; but they, no doubt, describe the 
state of things in the church before its defection to 
Calvinism. Dr. Wheeler's statement is as follows: 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 163 

"I have procured the records, which go back to 
1758, when John Burgess was pastor, and the busi- 
ness of the church was managed by elders or over- 
seers, while the private secular matters of the mem- 
bers were under the direction of the ministers and 
six members, who were constituted the "Court of 
Union." The churches had several arms or branches 
in the adjoining counties, to which the ministers, at- 
tended by the overseers and the clerk, regularly re- 
paired. 

"In a few years the Court of Union was dispensed 
with, but the churches being dissatisfied with its ex- 
tinction, nine members were chosen, who were con- 
sidered to be permanent elders, if found faithful, 
while the former overseers or elders were elected an- 
nually." 

Such, says Benedict, "was the complex machinery 
in ecclesiastical affairs at that early period with this 
well-meaning people." 

This statement rests on the supposition that the ec- 
clesiastical machinery of the other churches was as 
odd and cumberous as that contrived for the govern- 
ment of the Perquiman church, and there seems no 
reason to doubt that such was the case. 

I have said that there were sixteen churches of the 
Free-Will faith before the breaking up and remodeling 



164 EARLY HISTORY 

by Gano, and only six are recorded by the historian, 
and I suppose that these six embraced the doctrine of 
hyper-Calvinism. The other ten are left without any 
written account, and it is unnecessary for me to follow 
these six, as they belong to other denominations. I 
will return to my promise of refering to William Par- 
ker, and see if tradition cannot tell us something of 
a few of the other ten churches. 

The old settlers of this part of Pitt county, knew 
Parker well, when they were children, and many an- 
ecdotes are told concerning him, which I deem un- 
necessary to relate, but as a faithful soldier of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, he, ceased not to travel and preach, (of- 
ten on foot) free salvation to his fellow-man, until, 
like a faithful soldier, he fell at his post. 

An old Free-Will Baptist sister, who lived to be 
considerably over a hundred years old told her son, 
and he, also a Free-Will Baptist, told the writer of this 
that she knew Elder William Parker well, that she 
well recollected when he first came to the neighbor- 
hood and when he preached his first sermon on the 
plat of ground whereon old Gum Swamp Church 
now stands. The writer lives within about three- 
quarters of a mile of said church, and was raised 
within two miles of it. The old sister referred to was 
named Teel, by marriage. I think her maiden name 
was Pollard. She was raised within a few miles of 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 165 

Gum Swamp and lived and died in the neighborhood 
and was a faithful member of the Free-Will Baptist 
Church at that place up to the time of her death. I 
do not recollect whether she was baptized by Elder 
Parker, or by some other minister who was raised up 
under his ministry. She said that he soon raised up 
a church, and was pastor up to the time of his death. 
It will be borne in mind that Elder Parker was a 
member of the Perquimans church — the first Baptist 
church in North Carolina — at the time he organized 
the Gum Swamp Church, and if so, this proves that 
the Perquimans church is our mother, and that we 
are the original Baptist church of North Carolina 
holding the General provisions. 

Elder William Parker also traveled and preached 
in Green and Lenoir counties, and organized church- 
es in both of these, and according to the best infor- 
mation we can get, he organized the churches at 
Jones', now called Little Creek, and Grimsley, in 
Greene county, and Louson Swamp and Wheat 
Swamp in Lenoir county. This accounts for five 
more of the original sixteen churches, the other five 
I suppose, at this late day, cannot be accounted for. 

Gum Swamp, in Pitt county, has stood the shocks 
of proselyting, and remains firm to the Free-Will 
Baptist cause up to the present time. 

Little Creek, in Green county, has at one time 



166 EARLY HISTORY 

been divided, but while their pastor and a large num- 
ber of its members turned from the old path, a few- 
remained firm, and like one of the seven churches in 
Asia, did not defile their garments. 

Louson Swamp went with the Rev. Mr. Hunnicut 
in his raid on the churches of North Carolina, and 
Wheat Swamp, I think, died for lack of ministerial 
labor. 

The writer of this, in company with Elder Joseph 
Sauls, visited this church in 1867 and found a few 
old members still strong in the faith of the old Free- 
Will Baptists, but the old house was very much de- 
cayed, and the seats and all of the floor had been 
destroyed by the United States soldiers, during the 
war. The Disciples have a good building in the same 
yard, and a large number of members. 

The next point under consideration is, why are we 
called Free-Will Baptists ? A religious interest com- 
menced, by whom, or what means, it is not said, in 
the valley of Flat Swamp, and the Conetoe settle- 
ments, in Pitt county, about the year 1766, and some 
ten years afterwards, a New Light church, called 
Flat Swamp, was organized there. Sometime subse- 
quently, says the New Light Historians, the love of 
some of the members waxed cold, and the seeds of 
discord were sown in the church, "which caused the 
j[ r minians and Universalists to look out of their dens, 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 167 

where they had been driven by the refulgent beams 
of gospel truths." 

It is added that Arminianism prevailed but little 
among them, as it was an old doctrine they were 
well acquainted with it before their conversion. 

From this statement it is manifest that there was a 
people in this section that gave them considerable 
trouble, who, according to the figurative language of 
their enemies, were driven into seclusion by the glo- 
rious light of Calvinistic decrees, election, reproba- 
tion, etc. , and owing to the trouble this people gave 
them, they called them, by way of reproach, "Free- 
willers." But it is not intimated whether or not there 
had previously been a church there, of these hated 
Freewillers, and the fugitives from the New Light ef- 
fulgence, named above, were members of that church 
who could not be admitted into the new organization,, 
or else they utterly refused to join it. 

Who were these people that troubled these New 
Lights in the Flat Swamp and Conetoe settlements? 
The answer is, Gum Swamp church and its pastor,. 
Elder William Parker. Gum Swamp church is in the 
Conetoe settlements in Pitt county; Flat Swamp 
church is fifteen miles from Gum Swamp, near the 
line of Pitt and Martin counties, on the road that El- 
der Wm. Parker would have to travel from his home 
to Gum Swamp church. No doubt, that as he trav- 



168 EARLY HISTORY 

eled by Gum Swamp to his appointments, he preach 
ed often in the Flat Swamp settlements, and the mem- 
bers from Gum Swamp, meeting him there, gave 
these New Lights the trouble they speak of. 

It was nothing uncommon, in that day, for people 
to travel fifteen or twenty miles on foot, to hear the 
gospel preached ; unlike they are in our day, who 
can not go five miles to hear, unless on extracrdi; 
nary occasions. 

As I shall not have occasion, perhaps, to speak of 
Elder William Parker again, I cannot leave this part 
of the subject without saying, that, according to tra- 
dition, he was a man of wonderful muscular power, 
slow to resent an insult, but when fully aroused he 
feared not the face of man; otherwise he was as 
gentle as a lamb. He was untiring in his efforts as a 
minister, often traveling long distances on foot, to 
preach the gospel, and when he fell he was at his 
post. What a glorious death ! The writer of this 
greatly desires to be at his post, when death shall 
come, as a faithful soldier of the Lord Jesus. How 
uncharitable and unchristian in his enemies, to as- 
cribe it to an interference of Divine power, to take 
him away from troubling them. Had he embraced 
their extreme views of hyper- Calvanism, they would 
have praised him as a great minister, dying a tri- 
umphant death. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 169 

I have now shown that the name "Free-Will," 
was given us by way of reproach. Elder Elias Huch- 
ens, of Dover, New Hampshire, says we were called 
Ana-Baptists, Baptists and General Baptists, until the 
year 1828, when we adopted the name of Free- Will 
Baptists. 

The historians, all of whom were our enemies, as 
I have already shown, say these early churches were 
very lax in their discipline but have failed to show 
wherein the looseness consisted, only in one point : 

"They did not require an experience of grace 
from their members, when they received them into 
the church." 

If this is all they could say, at this late day, most 
of the christian denominations are lax in their disci- 
pline. These early churches took the Bible for their 
guide, they practiced its sacred teachings, and as the 
Apostles never required an experience, and as it was 
nowhere authorized in Holy Writ, they practiced what 
they found the gospel required, that is faith in the 
Lord Jesus Christ, repentance towards God, and 
Baptisim by immersion; and baptised their mem- 
bers on a profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and not by experience. 

Every Free-Will Baptist will see that this is his doc- 
trine, and the true doctrine of the New Testament, 
11 



170 EARLY HISTORY 

and that it is our practice to the present day to bap- 
tize members on their profession of faith in the Lord 
Jesus Christ. They may call it lax in discipline, if 
they choose, we cannot, for we find no warrant in 
the New Testament, for an experience of grace, as 
they term it. 

I have shown, that according to Mr. Benedict, 
these early churches had an annual interview, or 
yearly meeting, in which they regulated the general 
concerns of their churches, and if Mr. Benedict is 
correct, our Conference was organized by Palmer, 
the two Parkers, Sojourner and others, long before I 
was born, instead of Elder James Moore, myself, 
and others, as brother Nash would have us believe. 
Our Conference is nothing more than an annual or 
yearly meeting, where we meet to regulate the gener- 
al concerns of our churches. 

It is true that these churches were broken up, in 
part, but there were three ministers who stood firm 
and unshaken, and the churches that they were pas- 
tors of, stood firm, and, of course, they continued to 
hold their Annual as well as their Monthly and Quar- 
terly meetings, at all events, our enemies have failed 
to show that they did not, and I defy any person to 
show to the contrary. 

I heard, when I was a small boy, the old people 
say, that the Ana-Baptists or Free-Will Baptists, held 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 171 

a Conference at Gum Swamp when they were chil- 
dren. I have in my possession an old hymn book 
with the title page torn off, to the back part of which 
is tacked one leaf of a Minute without date. On 
that leaf it is stated that the Conferance was held at 
Wheat Swamp, in Lenoir county, and a resolution 
that the next Conference be held on Contentney, at 
Grimsley. There is another resolution upon the 
same leaf which I will give : 

"If is Resolved, That the ordinance of the anoint- 
ing with oil, shall not, by the Elders of the church, 
be administered to any but members of the society; 
and at their discretion a part, or the whole man may 
be anointed. 

The contribution was only fourteen dollars and 
twenty- five cents, and only two hundred copies of the 
minutes were ordered to be published. There are 
only four ministers' names attached to it, although 
there might have been others on the next page, as the 
four are at the bottom of the page. But in the ap- 
pointment to preach on Sunday, there is no other 
name mentioned, but three of those whose names 
are on the leaf. 

The four names were, F. Fonvielle, Isaac Pipkin, 
Levi Braxton and Jesse Heath. Elder Braxton was 
pastor of the Gum Swamp church, as long ago as 
the writer of this can remember, and succeeded El- 



172 EARLY HISTORY 

der Roach, who had resigned or died before my rec- 
ollection. Elder Heath is well known by the old 
people of Green county. Elder Pipkin, I have been 
informed, is the father of Elder Isaac Pipkin, whose 
name is at this time on our minutes. Elder Fonvielle 
I know but little about, only I have heard him spok- 
en of as one of our old ministers. After giving the 
text the minister preached from, on Sunday, it is ad- 
ded that a large, attentive and polite congregation 
waited on a faithful dispensation of the Gospel, and 
we pray that the happy effect may be long felt and en- 
joyed in the regions of Wheat Swamp. May God 
grant it, for Christ's sake, Amen. 

This book and leaf bears the mark of age, is print- 
ed in the old style, "but we cannot give the date. An 
old brother, in Martin county, presented it to me 
several years ago and told me that it was the hymn 
book in use when he was a boy. 

I have now traced the origin of the early Baptists 
a far as I can from history and tradition. I have 
passed over many things that could be said, but 
thought it unnecessary and would stop here, as I 
think I have fulfilled my promise, but on account of 
what has been said about us in modern days, I think 
it necessary to peruse the subject farther, and, if it 
should give offence to some, I cannot help it, "for 
truth is mighty and will prevail." I fed certain that 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 173 

every old Free-Will Baptist knows these things to be 
so, and will take no offence. 

After the breaking upof the churches as I have de- 
scribed, in a few years the Free-Will Baptists com- 
menced increasing and they soon spread over fifteen 
counties, mostly in the eastern part of the State, and 
numbered over two thousand members, and about 
forty ministers. They enjoyed peace and prosperity, 
until the Conference became large and it was thought 
best to divide and hold two Conferences, one bear- 
ing the original name, the other, the name of Bethel 
Conference. I cannot give the dates of what I am 
going to relate, but it is true and there are living 
witnesses to the truth of it besides myself. I have 
had the Minutes that gave the date, but I have loaned 
them out or misplaced them so that I do not know 
at this time where they are. 

Some time between the date of 183,9 and 1843, 
Elder J. T. Latham and other ministers of the Free- 
Will Baptist Conference, embraced the views of 
Alexander Campbell and withdrew from the Free- 
Will Baptists and carried with them the most of the 
Bethel Conference and did all they could to proselyte 
the members of the original Conference, and like 
the new lights of old, succeeded too well. 

In 1839 our Conference numbered 2006 members 
and 32 preachers, in 1843 we were reduced to 1440 



174 EARLY HISTORY 

members and 22 preachers. Such was the success 
of those that embraced the views of other denomi- 
nations. Having recovered from this innovation, 
prosperity again crowned us with success and our in- 
crease in about four years was from 1440 to 2563 
members, 58 preachers and 49 churches. It is seen 
from this statement that we soon recovered the ground 
that we had lost numbering in 1847 more than we 
did in 1839. But this state of prosperity did not 
last long, for at the Conference of 1847 the founda- 
tion of another division was laid which took place 
in a few years. The subject of our members uniting 
with secret societies had been discussed, and much 
opposition to it, and in some churches members had 
been excommunicated for joining them. At this Con- 
ference it was known that several ministers had unit- 
ed with them, and Elder John F. Jones offered the 
following resolution : 

1 ' Shall this Conference be a Conference with Free 
Masonry ; or a Conference without Free Masonry ?" 

Voted that it be a Free-Will Baptist Conference 
without Free Masonry. 

After the passage of this resolution several ministers 
withdrew from the Conference, and this subject con- 
tinued to disturb the Conference, until 1853, when 
Elder Alfred Moore introduced a resolution the pur- 
port of which was, ' ' that no church belonging to 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 175 

this Conference shall be at liberty to reject any person 
applying for membership, or excommunicate any 
member on the grounds that he belongs to the Order 
of Free Masons or Odd Fellows." 

Brother Henry Stancill proposed to amend by ad- 
ding unless a majority of members shall so decide." 

Article 3rd, Section 1st, of Rules of Church Dis- 
pline says : 

" After every matter regularly discussed, then it 
shall be put to vote, and a majority shall carry the 
point." 

Elder Alfred Moore refused to accept the amend- 
ment to his resolution, upon which Elder James 
Moore introduced a resolution giving to each church 
its own key — privilege of transacting its own business. 
Both the resolutions being put to a vote ; Elder Al- 
fred Moore's resolution without the amendment, re- 
ceived 36 votes, and that of Elder James Moore, re- 
ceived 66 votes. After this vote was taken there 
was some confusion, and it was found impossible to 
harmonize or unite upon those resolutions so the con- 
ference divided, each party claiming the old name. 
And as some of the officers went with each party it 
was necessary for both to reorganize, and both did 
reorganize choosing officers to fill the vacancy, I sup- 
pose this to be the reason of brother Nash falling into 
the error of saying, that the original Free- Will Bap- 



176 EARLY HISTORY 

tist Conference of North Carolina was organized by 
Elder James Moore, R. K. Hearne and others. If 
this construction be placed upon our organizing at 
that time, it can be said that we organize every year. 
I have shown who organized the original Free-Will 
Baptist Conference of North Carolina, or who were 
its founders. Are we that Conference or not ? I say 
we are. I suppose it is not denied but we are up to 
the Conference of 1853 and owing to division at that 
Conference both claiming the name, it is said we are 
not. Then if we are not, where are they, have they 
become extinct? There is no man living in eastern 
North Carolina, who has any acquaintance with the 
Free-Will Baptists that would pretend to say they 
have become extinct. They know we are the origi- 
nal Free-Will Baptists of North Carolina, although 
they may not be honest enough to own it. The 
other party bore the name a few years, then a por- 
tion of them united with Rev. Mr. Hunnicut, under 
tbe name of Union Baptist. 

A few years ago that denomination became ex- 
tinct, and a portion of them changed their name to 
Baptist, of which Brother Nash became their leader. 

We bear the same name, we have the same book 
of discipline, we preach the old doctrine, we receive 
members the same way without an experience of 
Grace, we commemorate the Lord's Supper the same 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 177 

way, we wash the saints feet the same way, we are 
the same persecuted old Free- Will Baptists that was 
organized in 1727 by Elder Paul Palmer. 

The old Conference, at the time of division in 
1853 adopted the following resolutions : 

1 ' That by the help of God we will adhere to, and 
abide by, and keep inviolate the articles of faith, 
the rules of discipline and the constitution of the 
original Free- Will Baptist church. That we believe 
the rules of discipline gives to each individual 
church its own key — the privilege of transacting its 
own business independent of the General Confer- 
ence." 

Since the adoption of the resolutions we have had 
peace and harmony and great prosperity, and so long 
as we continue in the old paths we will have peace. 
God in his wisdom placed these despised people in 
eastern North Carolina for a purpose, and they will 
continue, notwsthstanding they may be surrounded 
by false teachers, persecuted like the saints of old. 
The time may come when some of them may have 
to seal the truth with their blood, but God in the 
providence will not leave himself without a witness 
of the truths of the Gospel. 

The reader must not suppose from what has been 
said that these people do not believe in experimental 



178 EARLY HISTORY 

religion or the operation of the Holy Spirit on the in- 
dividual conciences. For their ninth Article of 
Faith fully settles this question, which is as follows : 

' ' We believe that sinners are drawn to God the 
Father, by the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ the 
son, and that the Holy Ghost offers his divine aid to 
all the human family, so as they all might be happy 
would they give divine teaching * * * * * 

The only difference between the General or Free- 
Will Baptists and the Particular Baptists is that the 
General require answers to leading questions, while 
the Particulars require the candidate for church mem- 
bership to relate the experience attending his con- 
viction and conversion, which is termed an "expe- 
rience of Grace." Both alike believe in taith, re- 
pentence, true and genuine conversion and they are 
both sound alike on the doctrine of experimental re- 
ligion. 



A HISTORY OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

OF THE GENARAL BAPTISTS IN THE 

WEST, AS ORGANIZED BY ELDER 

BENONI STINSON AND OTHERS. 



As Elder Benoni Stinson was the leading character 
in organizing the General Baptists in the West, it be- 
comes necessary for us to give a brief sketch of his 
life. Elder Stinson was born in North Carolina, Oc- 
tober 11th, 1798, and came, with his father, Elijah 
Stinson, to Wayne county, Kentucky, when he was 
quite a boy, whtre he had but little opportunity to 
attend school. In fact the writer has heard him say 
that what little education he did receive he obtained 
it by the light of a burning pine knot. However, he 
was a man of a robust constitution and in the posses- 
sion of extraordinary natural powers of mind. 

He professed religion in 1820 and joined the Unit- 
ed Baptist Church, in Wayne county, Kentucky, and 
was baptized by Elder Mathew Floyd. Soon after, 
he was licensed to preach the Gospel of Christ and 



180 EARLY HISTORY 

was ordained in November, 1821, by Elders Mathew 
Floyd and Richard Byers. 

Elder Stinson was called to the pastoral care of 
Liberty Church in Wayne county, Kentucky. But 
shortly after, he moved to Vanderburgh county, Indi- 
ana, where a work of grace was commenced under 
his ministry and a church, called New Hope, was 
organized, in which he and his wife deposited their 
letters. Elder Stinson was then appointed by this 
church a delegate "to go to what was then called 
The Wabash District Association, which was held 
at Patoka Church, near Princeton, Gibson county, 
Indiana." 

"It must be noted that up to this time this body of 
people were working under the old Union, which had 
been formed in Kentucky, the basis of which was : 

"That the preaching that Christ died for every 
man, should be no bar to fellowship." 

"But a majority of the controlling ministers in this 
body were Calvinistic and their articles of faith sav- 
ored strongly of unconditional election and reproba- 
tion. Elder Stinson first tried to have this article 
so modified that he would be allowed to preach that 
Christ died for all, or free salvation, which doctrine 
was as dear to him as life." In this he was disap- 
pointed. He ' and his wife then took letters from 
New Hope Church and united with Liberty Church. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 181 

in Vanderburgh county, Indiana, one mile and a half 
below Evansville, which had been organized on 
thirty-three members, who believed in a general atone- 
ment. This was in the fall of 1823. 

Elder Stinson now felt like he was a free man, and 
began to preach from house to house and from one 
neighborhood to another and his labors were abund- 
antly blest to the conversion of many precious souls 
and by September, 1824 three other churches had 
been organized, to-wit: Union, Black River and 
Providence. These churches met in September, 1824 
and organized Liberty Association of General Bap- 
tists, with a membership of two hundred and one. 
Rev. Thomas Goadby, President of Chilwell College, 
near Nottingham, England, who is a member of the 
General Association of the New Connection of Gen- 
eral Baptists in England, in a private letter to the 
writer, asks "why Elder Stinson and his adherents 
took the name General and not some other name." 
The question is easily answered. Elder Stinson, 
though a mere boy, was not without a knowledge of 
ecclesiastical history and in pursuing his studies in 
this direction, he found a people denominated Gen- 
eral Baptists, who held to, and promulgated, what he 
conceived to be the doctrines taught by Jesus Christ 
and his Apostles. It will be seen, by reference to 
Mr. Knight's history, that the English General Bap- 



182 EARLY HISTORY 

tists sent missonaries direct from London to America, 
about the begining of 1700, and Burkitt and Read's 
history developes the rise and progress of this peo- 
ple in Virginia. North Carolina and South Carolina. 
Among these people was found a confession of faith 
signed by Elders and Deacons in and around London 
and Liverpool, in England. This was evidently the 
confession of 1660, presented by Grantham and 
Wright to King Charles II. , upon his assention to 
the throne. 

This is the confession after which our articles of 
faith are modled. Therefore, it will be seen, we 
are not only genuine General Baptists but "we are 
the direct decendants of the English General Bap- 
tists." 

We will now speak a little further of the life of El- 
der Stinson. At the time Liberty Association of Gen- 
eral Baptists, in Indiana, was organized, Elder Stin* 
son was only twenty-six years old. "At this period 
of the life of this great and good man, he met with 
much persecution from many sources" and nothing 
short of a firm convicton of being in the right and 
that, backed by an iron will, could have sustained 
him in this conflict. He was frequently called upon 
to meet the strongest men in the old Calvinistic Bap- 
tist denomination. Unfortunately, only one of those 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 183 

debates are left in print. We console ourselves, how- 
ever, that the discussion with Elder Joel Hume, em- 
bodies, to some extent, the logical powers of his 
mind, though this discussion was held in his declin- 
ing years. 

We have had, in our denomination, men that could 
talk with more fluency, but for a systematic arraign- 
ment and forcible and impressive delivery, he had 
but few equals in all our land. He had that peculiar 
force in delivery that indelibly impressed his ser- 
mons upon the minds of his hearers. With peculiar 
clearness the writer can call to mind those wonderful 
sermons on the atonement communion question and 
the eternal judgement. 

Notwithstanding the many fiery trials through 
which he was called to pass, he traveled much in In- 
diana, Kentucky and Illinois, and his eloquence drew 
thousands to hear him preach on his favorite theme, 
the general atonement or that salvation is possible 
for all men. 

The following account of Elder Stinson's life and 
labors, are taken from the "Biographical Sketches,'' 
published in the General Baptist Herald, in 1877-78, 
by Captain Wm. Reavis, of Evansville, Indiana, who 
in the early part of his life was a prominent minister 
of the General Baptist denomination and of whom 
frequent mention is made in this work. 



184 EARLY HISTORY 

Brother Reavis says: "While I carefully note 
the fact that he became a great favorite among the 
people and that he was very popular, both as a man 
and a preacher, truth compels me to say that he had 
his enemies. * * * * The idea that 
a young man, with but little beard on his face could 
gather such crowds to hear him preach, and then hold 
them enchanted with his peculiar eloquence, grated 
somewhat harshly upon the sensibilities of some of 
the older Elders, especially the Calvinistic portion of 
them. 

"Had Elder Stinson been but an ordinary man he 
might have lived and died in the old Calvinistic Bap- 
tist church, and, groaned under the ' yoke ' of bond- 
age which the doctrines of unconditional election 
and reprobation would have imposed upon him. But 
Elder Stinson was a man of principle, he had been 
soundly converted and felt it his duty to preach, and 
he was ready to preach and declare the whole coun- 
sel of God, as he understood it, on all proper occa- 
sions. 

"We see him, now almost a beardless boy, with a 
little handful of brave spirits around him, and five to 
one of the Baptist preachers around him opposed to 
the doctrine he preached, still he was firmly planted 
upon ' the Rock of Ages ' and unfurled the banner 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 185 

of the Cross, and proclaimed the glad tidings of sal- 
vation, that ' Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, had 
tasted death for every man.' 

"During the summer of 1824, Elder Stinson had 
continued in the field, laboring for his Master, and 
his labors 'were not in vain, in the Lord.' The 
doctrine of a general atonement began to gain ground 
very rapidly and it was not long until other Baptist 
ministers came to his assistance. 

"Among those, I will mention Elders John Almon, 
Jesse Lane, sr., and Berry T. Dunn, all of whom 
now engaged in preaching the doctrine of ' Free Sal- 
vation to all men on the terms of the Gospel.' 

' ' While this work of organizing churches was go- 
ing on right in the midst of the Predestinarian Bap- 
tists. They looked upon him with suspicion and on 
one occasion, at least, the officers of a Calvinistic 
Baptist church, in Posey county, locked the doors of 
the church against Elder Stinson and the cengrega- 
tion that had assembled to hear him preach. The 
people seemed determined not to leave without hearing 
him and the weather being warm Elder Stinson mount- 
ed a log for a pulpit and preached a powerful sermon 
as well as administering a scathing rebuke to those 
who had shut him out of the church. This circum- 
stance was related by David Stephens and Daniel Mil- 
12 



18,6 EARLY HISTORY 

ler, who were both members of the old Liberty 
Church. However, there is no such record against 
Elder Stinson. He was never known to debar a 
minister of any denomination from preaching in his 
pulpit. 

" In the meantime God blest the labors of Elder 
Stinson and there were many glorious revivals follow- 
ed the preaching of himself and those that stood con- 
nected with him, and particularly at Enon Church, 
near Princeton. The exercises of those meetings de- 
serve a passing notice. There you could seethe gray 
haired and the young bowed down together, asking 
the prayers of christians in their behalf. I remem- 
ber, on one occasion, at the time of an Association 
there, that Elder Stinson had occasion to preach at 
the popular hour, on Sunday, to a large congrega- 
tion, perhaps two thousand persons were present ) he 
preached on his favorite theme, the atonement of 
Christ. His text was, Luke 24th chapter, 46 and 47 
verses. 

For two hours, Elder Stinson held that vast audi- 
ence spell-bound, being, at this time, in the prime of 
life, his reasoning powers and eloquence were so great 
that the people seemed rivited to the spot. He seem- 
ed to have such perfect control of his audience that 
they hung on to his lips as if enchanted. The silence 
was so profound that it was almost painful, and it was 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 187 

only broken by an occasional sob, an ejaculatory 
prayer or a shout. Tears were seen coursing down 
the cheeks of many a bronzed face. I remember to 
have seen two distinguished citizens, on that day, 
who were men of good sense and culture, both of 
them were believers in the Bible but neither of them 
were religious. Those men sat close to each other 
in front of the stand or rostrum. While listening to 
the bursts of eloquence as they poured forth from 
the lips of the enthusiastic speaker, I saw them spring 
to their feet more than once and lean forward as 
though they were afraid they would lose one word of 
the discourse, while the tears rolled down their cheeks 

in profusion. 

"After this sermon was over the friends, not only 

of the General Baptist church, but of other church- 
es, crowded around him and shook him by the hand 
congratulating him on his fine effort on the atone- 
ment. 

1 ' I have only given one specimen of the manner 
and ability of Elder Stinson in the pulpit on great 
occasions. I could, from memory, give many, but 
this will suffice, at present. 

"In this connection, I wish to say, that after one 
of those great efforts which seemed to fill the minds of 
christians with thoughts too large for utterance and 
with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory 



188 EARLY HISTORY 

the people were so full as to want to give expression 
in some way to their feelings and it was on such oc- 
casions that Elder Jesse Lane, sr. , was called out for 
exhortation. Then the long pent up feelings would 
give an expression and such shouts would follow as 
would seem to the listener that if the walls of old Jeri- 
co had been there they would have fallen before the 
victorious host of the Lord. 

"We now propose to speak of Elder Stinson as 
a theological debater. Having all his life been a 
close Bible student and a constant reader of ecclesias- 
tical history, and being naturally gifted with a fine 
voice and great reasoning powers, it was natural that 
he should attract considerable attention as a dispu- 
tant upon theological questions. 

"It is a very rare thing to find in the same man 
great talent both as a revivalist and disputant. But 
Elder Stinson possessed, in an eminent degree, this 
rare combination. It really seemed that he always 
had a reason ready for any and every body who in- 
quired of him concerning any point of doctrine which 
he taught, and then his reasoning was generally so 
clear and convincing, and his logic so sound that he 
was not only very forcible but was, really, quite for- 
midable as a debator. His fame, in this regard, was 
such as to naturally attract the attention of some very 
powerful divines who differed from him on doctrinal 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 189 

points, and this was the occasion of several debates 
between Elder Stinson and the Regular or Calvinistic 

Baptist Elders. 

"These discussions were principally in reference 

to the extent of the atonement. I will not say that 
Elder Stinson gained the mastery over any of his op- 
ponents in his debates with them. I will say, how- 
ever, that as a doctrinal preacher he was regarded, 
not only by his own people, but by other denomina- 
tions, as a very strong man. It will be safe to say 
that, considering his limited education, he had but 
few equals, and no superiors, on this point. It is 
also worthy of note, to say of him that his manner 
toward those with whom he debated was so courte- 
ous, gentlemanly and christian like, that he and his 
opponent became more friendly after, than before 
these discussions. 

"His first debate was with Elder Ezekiel Saunders, 
of the Regular Baptist church. This took place in 
Posey county, Indiana, but as it was not publised I 
do not now know what the propositions were which 
were discussed on that occasion. I only know that 
after this Elder Stinson and Elder Saunders were the 
best personal friends. Elder Saunders was a man of 
limited education, but he was strictly honest and much 
beloved, and highly respected both in and outside of 
his church relations. He was possessed of good com- 



190 EARLY HISTORY 

mon sense and a sound judgement and was very use- 
ful in his day, both as a minister and citizen. 

"Some years after this Elder Jeremiah Cash, a 
Regular Baptist minister, brought a charge against 
Elder Stinson, before the public, to-wit: That Elder 
Stinson had been excluded from New Hope Church 
of Regular Baptists, before he united with Liberty 
Church of General Baptists. Now as this old slan- 
der against Elder Stinson was circulated by Elder 
Cash in the vicinity of Owensville, and many other 
places and believed and reiterated by many persons 
not familiar with the facts. The Owensville church 
of General Baptists had Elder Cash set a day to 
meet Elder Stinson at Owensville and prove his 
charges, which he (Cash) had boldy said he could do, 
or forever after hold his peace. The day was set 
and Elder Cash and Stinson met accordingly. El- 
der Stinson produced a certificate from Elder Ezekiel 
Saunders, who was clerk of New Hope Church, at 
the time Elder Stinson and wife were lettered off, 
and with whom Elder Stinson had before held a pub- 
lic discussion. This certificate showed that Elder 
Stinson and wife were in good standing in that church. 
Fortunately, I now have in my possession, the origi- 
nal certificate, which was written and signed by Elder 

Ezekiel Sanders, in his own hand writing, and as a 
matter of justice to the General Baptist people and 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 191 

the illustrious dead, I will place it on record as a mat- 
ter of history, which is as follows : 

Vanderburg Co., la., Dec. the 13, 1842. 

"This is to certify that Elder Benoni Stinson and 
wife were both members of New Hope Church, of 
which I was clerk, and that they were both dismissed 
by letter, and joined Liberty Church. 

Given under my hand, this day and date above 
written, . E. Sanders. 

"It was conceded, very generally, I believe, by a 
majority of those present at this interview, that El- 
der Stinson triumphantly refuted this old and often 
repeated charge and with all fair minded persons, 
forever settled that question. . I am told however, 
that there are a few of the Regular Baptist Ministers 
in Illinois, who either from ignorance or malice, still 
repeat the slander and for this reason I have fortified 
the General Baptists with the above certificate ; sev- 
eral other charges were also at this same meeting in- 
vestigated and successfully refuted by Elder Stinson. 

"These charges were to the effect that Elder Stin- 
son should have said many hard words against the 
Regular Baptists, and Elder Cash acknowledged 

that his informants would not testify to what they 
had told him. This was a signal victory for the 
General Baptists, and such a thing is not even hint- 
ed at in these parts at this date. 



192 EARLY HISTORY 

" I am sorry to say that after this investigation the 
personal relations between Elder Stinson and Cash 
were not as pleasant as had been hoped for by their 
friends. 

''But now they have both gone to their reward, 
and it is hoped and believed by their respective 
friends that they have gone to that 'sun bright clime,' 
where there is no more prejudice, pain or sorrow, 
and where brethren will never fall out by the way, 
where all wounds made by sin in this world of sor- 
row, will be healed. 

"I am rejoiced to record the fact that this is the 
only instance known to me of any personal estrange- 
ment between Elder Stinson and any of the other 
Regular Baptist Ministers with whom he often met 
in friendly discussions. For notwithstanding all the 
conflicts and controversies between the Regular and 
General Baptists, Elder Stinson continued on quite 
intimate terms with them. 

" Passing by several debates and short investiga- 
tions of minor importance, held between Elder Stin- 
son and others, I will now speak of his debate with 
Elder Joel Hume, of the Regular Baptist church. 

"This was perhaps the most important discussion 
of his life, and before doing this, I must be permitted 
to give a short biographical sketch or Elder Hume. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 193 

Should these lines fall under the eye of my venerable 
and highly esteemed friend, who is yet living, I hope 
he will pardon me for the freedom I have taken in 
using his name in this connection. 

"Elder Joel Hume was born in Campbell, now 
Kenton County, Kentucky, on the 13th of June, 
1807. He openly professed the Christian religion in 
December, 1829, and joined the Vermillion church, 
was ordained in December, 1835. Elder Hume is 
emphatically what may be considered a ' self made 
man,' in the sense in which that term is generally 
used. But having great natural ability, an indomit- 
able will and an industrious disposition, he began 
very soon after his ordination to exhibit talent of a 
very extraordinary character from the beginning of 
his ministerial career, he espoused the doctrine of a 
rigid 'Predestinarian.' Therefore he has continued 
uniformily to preach that doctrine ever since. 

"He is one of those independent thinkers, who 
takes the Bible itself for the man of his counsel in 
matters of doctrine and proclaims the gospel as he 
understands it without fear, favor or affections. In 
personal appearance he is very large, has a powerful 
chest and large head. While he firmly believes in 
the doctrine of Predestination, he just as firmly be- 
lieves that the doctrine of a general atonement or 
that Christ died for all men, is false, and it is per- 



194 EARLY HISTORY 

fectly natural that while he is defending the Predesti- 
narian doctrines, that he should make war upon Ar- 
minianism, and it was just as natural that he should 
come in contact with many strong men who held to 
the doctrine that opposed Predestination. 

The doctrine of free discussion or free speech is 
strongly indorsed byJElder Humes. He is distinguished 
in kindly and courteous bearing toward those who 
differ in opinion from him. 

' ' His manner of debating or preaching seems to be 
peculiar to himself, while he does not indulge in high 
flowing words of ' man's wisdom'; he takes the plain 
unvarnished word of God which he calls the ' ' Ar- 
tillery of Heaven,' and thunders away with a power 
and skill that is really surprising, nor does he use 
any surplusage. His words are few and well chosen, 
his reasoning close, his logic strong, almost irresist- 
able. 

" Elder Hume belonged to the 'Old School' Bap- 
tist church, and has been regarded for many years as 
one of the ablest men in that fraternity, and to my 
knowledge he has been for many years the leader, as 
to ability and influence of that people in this part 
of the country. His influence and popularity is 
about as great and he stands in about the same rela- 
ion to the Regular Baptist people that Elder Stinson 
did to the General Baptists. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 195 

''Although Elder Hume was not here at the time 
of the organization of the General Baptist church 
and did not at that time come in contact with Elder 
Stinson, yet they did meet soon after Elder Hume 
became a member of the Salem Association of Reg- 
ular Baptists and notwithstanding they differed widely 
as to their doctrinal views, they became warm person- 
al friends and this friendship continued unbroken, 
both being fond of controversy and each being lead- 
ers in their respective denomination it was but natural 
that they should engage in a debate which they did 
on two occasions. 

The first one of these debates took place at Linn- 
ville, Warrick county, Indiana. This discussion was 
not written and published, and, I believe, neither of 
them was well satisfied with it, and they met again, 
by mutual agreement, at Owensville, Gibson county, 
Indiana, where they were provided with a steno- 
grapher who wrote up the debate, and it was pub- 
lished in book form, and had quite an extensive cir- 
culation and may be found in the libraries of many 
families in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, At this 
time, I will not hazard any opinion as to which one, 
or whether either of the disputants got the better of 
the argument. I will say, however, that there was 
quite a large attendance present who listened to the 



19H EARLY HISTORY 

end with unabated interest, and while all felt edified 
the friends of each were satisfied with the efforts 
made by their respective champions. 

"It is true that theological discussions do not often 
produce much good feeling between the contending 
parties but in this case I am glad to note an excep- 
tion, for I have it from the mouths of the parties 
themselves, and those who were present, that the dis- 
cussion was conducted with much decorum and 
courteous bearing by the disputants towards each 
other, so that the meeting had a tendency to edify 
and bring into closer relations, socially, the Regular 
and General Baptist people. May God. in his mer- 
cy, grant that all religious discussions end in that 
way. 

"Elder Hume commenced his ministerial labors 
with Bethel Church, in Posey county, Indiana, April, 
1840. He continued his labors with that church for 
about twenty-three years, and while doing this, he 
generally had the care of three other churches, and 
for many years he attended five churches and carried 
on his farm, besides. 

"Elder Hume has always been opposed to minis- 
ters having stated salaries for their services. He is 
sometimes misunderstood in this regard and has been 
accused of advocating the doctrine that preachers 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 197 

should have no pay for their services. But to the 
contrary, he holds that it is the duty of every church 
to minister to the wants of their Pastor and that this 
should be done in proportion to the ability of each 
member, and that these contributions should be made 
not by any law by which members are taxed, but by 
the free will of persons who pay money on this ac- 
count. He would not have one cent for his ministe- 
rial rervices if the collection had to be enforced by 
any law, ecclesiastical or otherwise, and it is with 
pleasure that I record the fact that his brethren, many 
of whom are wealthy, have appreciated his great serv- 
ices, and prompted by that law which the spirit of 
God writes on the hearts of his people, they have, 
at least, partially rewarded him so that, I am inform- 
ed, he has a good home in Owensville, Gibson coun- 
ty, Indiana, and a sufficient competancy that enables 
him to spend the evening of his useful life in com- 
parative comfort. 

"The debates between Elders Hume and Stinson, 
at Owensville, was the last of the kind which has 
taken place between the ministers of the two denom- 
inations or between Elder Hume and any one in this 
portion of the country. 

' ' In reviewing the conflicts which Elder Stinson 
had from time to time with that people, running over 
a period of nea"1 ir fifty years, it is pleasant to reflect 



198 EARLY HISTORY 

that the contest which was somewhat bitter at first, 
ended in such good feeling; and it is also gratifying 
to know, that during all this long contest, whatever 
may have been said by the opposition as to the irreg- 
ularities of Elder Stinson in matters of discipline and 
doctrine, no charge was ever made against his moral 
character and, I may further add, that Elder Hume, 
with all the opposition he has met with from time to 
time, has, also, maintained throughout his eventful 
life thus far, a good moral character, no charge has 
ever been made against him of any conduct unbe- 
coming a christian or a minister, and although not so 
strong, physically, as formerly, he still preaches with 
much power. 

"Elder Stinson has ended his earthly career, he 
has fought the good fight of faith and is, doubtless, 
resting from his labors. 

" Elder Hume is growing old, his limbs which were 
once strong, now tremble with age and much labor. 
A few more days, or years, at most, and he too, will 
no doubt, be called from labor to reward, and then 
on the golden shores of the 'better country,' he will 
meet Elder Stinson where death is swallowed up in 
victory, where each in loving embrace, can join in 
singing the 'songs of Moses and the Lamb,' to whom 
they will ascribe all the glory and honor of their sal- 
vation to the Lamb that was slain and liveth for ever 
more. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 199 

" Elder Stinson's last preaching was on the second 
Sabbath in October, 1869, at the old Mt. Pleasant 
Church, in Posey county, Indiana. He come to the 
church while Elder Jacob Speer was preaching and 
after the discourse was ended the church requested 
that Elder Stinson preach a sermon, which he did, 
before the congregation was dismissed. After dismis- 
sion he announced that he would remain in the neigh- 
borhood and that some one would preach at lamp- 
lighting. The people came out and Elder Stinson 
preached, which was his last sermon. On Monday 
he came, in company with Maj. J. B. Cox, to a point 
near his home, where they separated, Elder Stinson 
being, apparently, in good health, but was taken 
down sick in about two hours after reaching his home 
and lingered about ten days when he yielded up his 
spirit to God who gave it. Thus ended the life of 
the founder of the General Baptists in the West, who 
had continued incessantly preaching the gospel from 
the date of his licensing until within ten days of the 
close of his earthly existence, and it is remarkable 
that he had not another appointment at that time. 



200 EARLY HISTORY 



ELDER JESSE LANE, SR. 

We have given a short biography of Elder Stinson 
as well as some of the strong men in the Regular 
Baptist denomination, we will now give from the 
same pen, Elder Wm. Reavis', short biographical 
sketches of some of the Ministers that were imme- 
diately connected with Elder Stinson in his labors. 

The first we mention is Elder Jesse Lane, sr., who 
in usefulness and energy as an evangelist giving in- 
increase and strength to the denomination. It is 
but just to say that he did as much in this direction 
as any one man who was associated with Elder Stin- 
son. Elder Lane had been with the movement from 
its organization and was ordained in August, 1824, 
and he was at all times a zealous, earnest working 
christian, with his whole heart in the work. He 
had only an ordinary common school education, but 
he was well read in both sacred and profane history, 
he was rather under the medium height but square 
built and athlete, with dark hair and eyes, he had a 
strong voice which was not only musical but it was 
full of tenderness and pathos, he was never regarded 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 201 

as a very good textuary preacher or able expounder 
of the mysteries of the bible, nor did he aspire to 
those kind of gifts. His great fort was to present the 
gospel in its simplest form, it was his great delight to 
give his hearers the sincere milk of the word, he de- 
lighted to dwell on the beauties of religion and he 
left to others the task of presenting controverted 
points. His great gift consisted not in preaching 
but exhortation, he brought to his work an enthu- 
siasm which was truly sublime, I have never heard 
any man whom I thought to bs his equal as an ex- 
horter. He was therefore emphatically a great revi- 
valist. It was his custom for many years to attend 
associations and protracted meetings in company 
with Elder Benoni Stinson, and after Elder Stinson 
had held a congregation spell-bound for from an hour 
and a half to two hours, Elder Lane was merely 
called out for an exhortation on such occasions ; he 
would arise and occupy generally about twenty-five 
minutes in such exhortations and appealed to his 
hearers as no tongue or pen can describe ; he poured 
forth one continuous stream of eloquence with such 
tenderness and pathos as to touch and melt the hard- 
est heart on such occasions ; he generally called for 
those seeking religion and asked them to present 

themselves at the altar of prayer. At such times I 
IB 



202 EARLY HISTORY 

have seen as many as fifty persons present themselves 
for prayer, and before the meeting was over on some 
occasions nearly that many persons would make an 
open profession of religion. It was thus that Elder 
Lane lived and labored during his very useful life. 
He died in Warrick county, Indiana, at his home on 

the — day of , 1851. His last hours were 

spent in prayer and praises, and he sent word to his 
brethren that he died rejoicing, that his work was 
done and that he had been permitted to preach his 
great theme of free salvation for twenty-five years. 
It was thus this bold soldier of the cross fell in the 
midst of his usefulness, but it is a great consolation 
to know that he died with the harness on in the full 
assurance of faith and in hope of a glorious resur- 
rection and immortality. 

But never while memory lasts will he be forgotten 
by those who knew him. Hundreds who read this 
short sketch of his life with hearts swelling out with 
hopes of immortality can join me in this sentiment 
as to him. 

' ' My buried friend can I forget, 
Or must the grave forever sever ; 
They linger in my memory yet 
And in my heart they live forever." 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 203 



ELDER BERRY DUNN. 

Elder Dunn was not an educated man, nor was he 
what might be called a doctrinal preacher, but he 
was a man of good sense and fine feeling ; he was a 
revivalist and his exhortations were full of the deepest 
feeling and earnestness ; he was equally able in pray- 
er. I have often heard him on revival occasions in 
prayer and it appeared to me that he prayed with 
more emotion and earnestness than many others I 

heard. 

He labored mostly in Posey county, Indiana, and 
was very successful in building churches and winning 
souls to Christ. His career was not a long one, as 
he died in the prime of life, but while he lived he 
was a bright and shining light in the church, and his 
labor will not soon be forgotton by those who knew 
him. I have no means of giving any particulars as 
to the time when he was ordained or the date of his 
death. He was truly a nursing father in Israel who 
lived and was faithful to his trust, and of him it may 
be truly said, ' he being dead yet speaketh. ' He was a 
delegate when the old liberty Association was organ- 
zed. 



204 EARLY HISTORY 



ELDER ALVAH PARKER. 

I can not mention all the Ministers who were co- 
workers with Elder Stinson, who are now dead ; but 
I cannot pass without mentioning in this connection 
Elder Alvah Parker. He lived most of his time in 
and died in Vanderburgh county, Indiana, and was 
therefore often thrown in the same company with El- 
der Stinson, and lived within half a mile of him 
when he died. Being among the first who became 
converted, he joined the old Liberty Association, 
and after it was organized he claimed Elder Stinson 
as his father in the Gospel and was strongly attached 
to him all through his life. 

"They had labored together in the same church 
and same cause for nearly half a century and, united 
in life they were not long separated in death. When 
Elder Stinson died Elder Parker was near and caught 
his dying words and the writer saw him stand by the 
remains and preach Elder Stinson's funeral sermon, 
in company with Dr. Andrews. This, I believe, was 
Elder Parker's last sermon. There was a remarka- 
ble incident connected with this circumstance which 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 205 

seemed a little like prophecy. Elder Parker said 
that when Elder Stinson was dying he told him that 
he would be the next to follow him. Elder Parker 
spoke of this at the funeral with much emotion, and 
said he expected soon to join Elder Stinson in the 
'better land/ and sure enough, ne died within six 
weeks after this. They are both now together with the 
spirits of the just made perfect, to be separated no 
more forever. I have no means by which to enable 
me to tell the precise date of the death of Elder 
Parker. He died at his home in Vanderburgh coun- 
ty, Indiana, about November, 1869. So ended the 
career of one who had been a preacher for nearly 
thirty years, and he, too, has left a name which will 
live and ought to live on the brightest pages of the 

history of the General Baptist denomination. 

"I will remark here, that I am speaking mainly 

of ministers who are dead and who were more im- 
mediately connected with Elder Stinson in his labors. 
I would be pleased to make honorable mention of 
each and all of the veterans in the ministry who have 
died while in the service, but it will be impossible to 
do so in the short space allotted to me in a work of 
this kind. Many will remember Elder John Wood, 
Jacob Hougland and James Blackburn, all of whom 
were good and true men. Elder Blackburn, I am 



206 EARLY HISTORY 

informed, died full of trust and in the hope of a bliss- 
ful immortality, and his mantle has fallen on two of 
his sons, Elders W. J. and Wilson Blackburn, who are 
earnest and useful ministers and reside in Posey coun- 
ty, Indiana. 



ELDER THOMAS FULLER. 

Sometime in 1825, Elder Stinson established a 
preaching point in the neighborhood of where Mt. 
Gilead Church now stands. He met with much op- 
position in that quarter but still a wonderful revival 
followed his preaching and many were converted. 
Among these was one convert whose conversion 
seemed almost like a miracle. This was Thomas 
Fuller, who, up to this time, had been one of the 
most incorrigibly hardened of all the men in that 
neighborhood. It was a strange thing to see him at 
meeting and surprisingly strange to see him bowed 
down as a mourner, asking the prayers of God's peo- 
ple in his behalf. However, he was converted, and 
this wild man, who had hitherto been fierce and al- 
most a terror to the good people of the neighbor- 
hood was now clothed as with a garment of salvation, 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 207 

and like one of old, seemed to be sitting at the feet 
of Jesus in his right mind. Nor was this all; he had 
no learning. He did not know one letter from an- 
other. He could neither read or write a word. His 
wife could both read and write and she was a chris- 
tian. He sat daily at her feet and listened to her 
read the Scriptures. He committed whole chapters, 
to memory, and what is more strange, he began to 
preach. He was, at the request of his churchs 
licenced in September, 1827, and ordained two years 
after. He took the field and preached with such 
power and success as to surprise every one. His quo- 
tations of Scripture were nearly always correct and 
his manner of explaining different texts was astound- 
ing. He continued to go on, and prosper, building 
up churches wherever he went, and among all the 
ministers that sprung from old Mt. Gilead Church, 
Elder Thomas Fuller was the most noted and useful 
of any of them. He was a large man, about five 
feet ten inches in height, a broad chest and weighed 
about two hundred pounds, had a fine shaped head 
and face and a very heavy brain. His memory was 
extraordinary and he had a strong voice. He was 
pastor of Mt. Gilead Church for many years or most 
of the time from September, 1834 to 1852, and also 
attended two or three other churches at the same 



208 EARLY HISTORY 

time. He seldom ever failed to preach once or 
twice on every Sunday when he was well. He pre- 
sided at the business meetings of the churches he at- 
tended with dignity, and exhibited much parliamen- 
tary knowledge. His manners were sweet and gen- 
tle and his company was sought by many of the 
learned and influential men of the country. In short, 
he was the most popular and influential man I ever 
knew, to be unlearned, as he was. He took great 
delight in performing the rites of baptism, and dur- 
ing his life he immersed many hundreds. He never 
received much pay for his pastoral services • but la- 
bored on his farm with his own hands and not only 
made a support for himself and family but often gave 
money to other ministers who visited his neighbor- 
hood. His disposition was cheerful and happy; in- 
deed, he was witty, and at times, a great jester. For 
many year before he died he had frequent attacks of 
inflamatory rheumatism, which were very painful. 
He bore all these afflictions with a courage and for- 
titude that seemed almost super-human. He was 
born July 6th, 1791. He died, after a lingering ill- 
ness, on the 25th day of August, 1857, leaving be- 
hind him a testimony of a blameless and useful life, 
universally beloved and respected by hosts of friends. 
In all the relations of life, as pastor, husband, father 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 209 

and friend, he fulfilled his duty with alacrity and 
having received much kindness at his hands, while he 
lived, his memory will ever be dear to me. Such 
was the result of his labors in Warrick county India- 
na, that his influence, for good, will not soon be for- 
gotten. 

It was by such means as this that Elder Stinson 
was spreading the doctrines of free salvation on the 
terms of the gospel. He went up into the wilds of 
Warrick county when the country was new and a 
great revival was commenced under his ministry and 
Thomas Fuller and. scores of others were converted. 
It is thus the good work of a useful minister goes on 
and good influences are started afloat down the 
stream of time, and eternity alone can unfold the 
amount of good which may result from a begining 
like this. It is on this account that it may be said of a 

good man when he is gone, he, being dead, yet 
speaketh. W. R. 



We now turn to trace the history of Liberty Asso- 
siation, the first of the General Baptist's organized in 
the West. It will be observed that at the organization 
of the body in 1824, it consisted of four churches, 
two hundred and one members, and twenty-two dele- 
gates, which are as follows : 



"210 EARLY HISTORY 

Liberty Church— Elder Benoni Stinson, John B. 
Stinson, Daniel R. Jacobs, Geo. B. Wagnon, Benja- 
min McNew, and James Slover. Seventy-four mem- 
bers. 

Union Church — Thomas E. Casselbery, John 
Blair, Asa A. Robertson, James Marrs, Berry T. 
Dunn, and Rufus Williams. Sixty-two members. 

Black River Church— Thomas Almon, John Al- 
mon, John Robertson, William Steel, and George 
Woolzey. Twenty-nine members. 

Providence Church — Jesse Lane, Aaron Ellsworth, 
John Garrett, Abraham Fronsway, and Henry James. 
Twenty-six members. 

This little band appointed a Committee to draw 
up a Constitution, By-laws and articles of Faith, 
which when reported were adopted, and the articles 
of Faith remain to-day as they were when adopted 
with the exception of article fifth and eleventh. Ar- 
ticle fifth read at first as follows, to-wit : 

"That the saints will finally persevere through grace 
to glory." 

Elder Stinson never believed in this article, but 
some of the members in the organization of Liberty 
Association did, hence the fifth article remained un- 
changed for twenty-one years, when at the instance 
of Elder Wm. Reavis it was changed to read : 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 211 

"We believe that he that shall endure to the end, 
the same shall be saved." 

Also at the same meetings the eleventh article was 
amended by placing in parenthesis, as it now stands 
(Infants and Idiots excepted.) 

We here insert the Articles of Faith of most of 
the General Baptist Associations in Missouri and Ar- 
kansas. The first eleven of these are the same as we 
find in the minutes of all the Associations in Illinois, 
Indiana and Kentucky. The twelfth and thirteenth 
are a little in advance and doubtless will soon be 
adopted by all of our Associations. 

They have the true ring and upon this ground we 
can successfully meet every objection of close com- 
munionists. Upon this' ground our people in Mis- 
souri and Arkansas are meeting close coram unionists 
and are wonderfully successful. 

CONFESSION OF FAITH. 

1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and 
New Testaments are the infallible Word of God, and 
the only safe rule of faith and practice. 

2. That there is only one true and living God, in 
the God-head or divine essence — Father, Son and 
Holy Ghost. 



212 EARLY HISTORY 

3. That we are fallen and depraved creatures, and 
cannot extricate ourselves from our fallen situation by 
any ability we possess by nature. 

4. That salvation, regeneration, sanctification, jus- 
tification and redemption, are by the life, death, resur- 
rection, ascension and intercession of our Lord and 
Savior, Jesus Christ. 

5. We believe that he that shall endure to the end, 
the same shall be saved. 

6. That the joys of the righteous and the punish- 
ment of the wicked will be eternal, 

7. We believe that Baptism and the Lord's Supper 
are ordinances of Jesus Christ appointed in the church 
and none but true believers are the proper subjects, 
and the only mode of baptism is immersion, and feet 
washing is an example or pattern of piety and humil- 
iation. 

8. We believe in the sanctity of the first day of the 
week (or Lord's Day,) and that it ought to be ob- 
served and spent in the public and private worship of 
God, and on it we should abstain from our wordly 
concerns, except in cases of necessity or mercy. 

9. We believe in the resurrection of the body, 
both of the just and unjust, but everyone in his own 
order, those who have done good to the resurrection 
of life, and those who have done evil to the resur- 



IN THE UNI LED STATES. 213 

rection of damnation ; and God hath appointed a 
day in which to judge the world in righteousness by- 
Jesus Christ. 

10. That it is our duty to be tender and affectionate 
to one another, and to study the happiness of the 
people of God in general, and to be singly engaged 
to promote the honor and glory of God. 

11. We believe Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, 
tasted death for every man ; yet none can partake of 
his divine benefits only by repentance toward God and 
faith toward our Lord Jesus, (infants and idiots ex- 
cepted, they being included in the Covenant of God's 
grace.) 

12. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the 
door into the Church and that baptism is a duty in 
answer to a good conscience. 

13. We believe that the Lord's people are one in 
him and therefore should be one at His table. 

The second meeting of Liberty Association was 
held with Union Church, Posey county, when four 
new churches were added to their number, to-wit. : 
Mt. Gilead, Mt. Pleasant, Concord and Hopewell. 
The two former are in existence at present, one in 
Warrick the other in Posey county. 

The Association, at this meeting, numbered three 
hundred and eleven, forty of whom were delegates* 



214 EARLY HISTORY 

At the third meeting, two churches, Clear Fork, of 
Pigeon and Free Salem, in Kentucky, were added. 
They then had two hundred and fifty-eight members 
and twenty-nine delegates, a decrease of fifty three 
members and a loss of eleven delegates. 

The fourth meeting was held with Providence 
church. They did not receive any new churches 
this year but had two hundred and eighty-four mem- 
bers and thirty-two delegates, a gain of sixty-six 
members and two representatives. 

The fifth Association was held with Concord 
Church, Posey county, and numbered two hundred 
and fifty-four members and thirty-three delegates, a 
loss of thirty members, but a gain of one delegate. 

Up to this meeting the General Baptists of Liber- 
ty Association had practiced close communion, or 
held communion with immersed believers only.. Elder 
Stinson was held to this practice by the same course 
that retained the article of "final perseverance." It 
seemed impossible to get everything arranged as he 
desired. At first some of those who stood the clos- 
est to him in his belief on the atonement were strong 
opposers of apostacy, and "free or open commun- 
ion," but Elder Stinson lived to see the day that all 

of these barriers were removed. 

At their fifth meeting they agreed to proclaim open 
communion. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 215 

The writer heard Elder Stinson relate the circum- 
stance that caused him to break over the barriers of 
close communion. He said that he (Stinson) "was 
conducting a protracted meeting near the Ohio river, 
in Vanderburgh county, Indiana, when Alexander 
Downey, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister came 
to his assistance and did excellent service all the week 
in singing, praying, exhorting and preaching, which 
was gladly received and highly appreciated, but on 
Sabbath was a communion service ; I did not say it in 
so many words, but our former practice said, we have 
been well pleased with you all the week, but now you 
will please take a back seat until after this solemn 
duty and binding service is over, then we will be 
glad to have you assist us in our services." He said i 
"I must confess to you brethren, that I felt mean, 
and there and then I told my brethren that I intend- 
ed to invite all of God's people to the Lord's table," 
and he ever afterwards followed the injunction of 
Paul: "Let a man examine himself and let him so 
eat," and he lived to rejoice at and fully endorsed 
the proclamation of the motto of Mr. Spurgeon, 
which is: " There is not a saint on God's green earth 
from whom I would absent myself at the Lord's 
table." The Association sustained Elder Stinson in 
his determination to practice open communion, and 



216 EARLY HISTORY 

to-day there is not a single General Baptist church in 
the United States that does not practice open com- 
munion. 

The sixth Association was held with Mt. Pleasant 
Church, Posey county, Indiana. Seven churches 
were represented and twenty-five delegates with a 
membership of one hundred and ninety-five. This 
shows a loss of three churches, five delegates and 
fifty-nine members. This appears to have been the 
most depressing period in the history of Liberty As- 
sociation. The enemies of the General Baptist cause 
lost no opportunity in taking every advantage of El- 
der Stinson and his people, they called him the Free- 
wilier, they told the people that the name General 
Baptist originated with Stinson and his few follow- 
ers, that their practices were contrary to the teaching 
of the scriptures and that in so preaching they lost 
their identity as Baptists* Elder Stinson and his ad- 
herents sorely felt the evil arising from such misre- 
presentations, therefore a committee of five were ap- 
pointed to prepare a letter circular, setting forth the 
origin of the principles as taught by General Bap- 
tists. The letter is found in the Minutes of the sixth 
meeting and appears to have had the desired effect. 

They also appointed quarterly meetings in differ- 
ent parts of the Association and appointed Elders 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 217 

Benoni Stinson, John B. Stinson, Jesse Lane, John 
Davis, and Thomas Fuller and Brothers Geo. B. 
Dagon and Reuben Darby to attend said quarterly 
meetings. 

This is the first time we hear of John Davis be- 
ing called an Elder. 

The seventh Association met with Free Salem 
Church, Henderson county, Kentucky, and reported 
one hundred and ninety-four members, a loss of one. 
At this meeting "Elder Elias Hutchison, a visiting 
brother of the Free-Will Baptists of the State of 
Maine" appeared and was invited to a seat in coun- 
sel with them. 

The eighth Association was held with the Mt. 
Gilead Church, Warrick county, Indiana. It is 
proper to state at this point that about the time Liberty 
Association was organized, a like separation took 
place in many other Associations in the South and 
West, most of whom was finally overpowered or ab- 
sorbed by the Mother Association or the Missionary 
Baptists. Many faithful men however that were 
driven out under these circumstances formed them 
selves in to separate Baptists, Free, Free-Will and 
Free Communion Baptists. Notwithstanding these 
different names they are all genuine General Bap- 
tists in faith and practice and many of them are 
14 



218 EARLY HISTORY 

adopting that name. In the year 1827, Elder Jacob 

Speer with a number of others, by mutual consent, 
separated from the United Baptists, in the State of 
Tennessee, some of them moving to central Illi- 
nois, some to Indiana and some to other Spates. El- 
der Speer came to Indiana and settled near Prince- 
ton, Gibson county, Indiana. This was within the 
bounds of the Wabash District Association of which 
Elder Stinson was formerly a member. 



ELDER JACOB SPEER. 



Elder Speer being yet alive and well, he has pass- 
ed his four-score years, it will not be necessary for 
me to say a great deal about him here, but this much 
I will say : it is impossible to write up, correctly, the 
history of the General Baptist church in this part of 
the country without mentioning him, nor could I do 
justice to the life and services of Elder Stinson with- 
out the frequent mention of the name of Elder Jacob 
Speer, and justice and truth compels me to say that, 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 219 

excepting Elder Benoni Stinson himself, no man liv- 
ing or dead has done so much to build up the Gener- 
al Baptist Church in this country as has Elder Speer. 
He has now labored in the ministry for over half a 
century and most of that time he has had the care of 
four churches, preaching to each two days in each 
month and often holding protracted meetings every 
day in the week. He is now old, and nearing the 
other shore, and cannot labor so much as formerly, 
but he is yet very useful and labors much in the cause 
when the weather is not too severe from heat or cold. 
He is a large man and has been very strong and vig- 
orous. His voice, which is now somewhat shattered 
and husky, was very strong when he was in the prime 
of life. His education was very limited, but having 
mixed in good society so much and possessing an en- 
terprising mmd he has become generally, very well 
informed, especially in the Scriptures* Here I will 
say, for the benefit of young ministers, that Elder 
Speer during all his long life in the ministry has nev- 
er done any act that would bring reproach upon the 
cause of Christ, and to this day he commands the re- 
spect of not only his own people, but the people of 
all denominations, who know him. 

He is a man of strong convictions and his sermons 
are delivered with extraordinary earnestness. As to 
his great success as a preacher, we will here give an 



220 EARLY HISTORY 

essay read by Elder Speer before the fifty-eighth annu- 
al meeting of Liberty Association, on the 18th of 
September, 1881. This is a synopsis of his labors in 
the ministry, and is as follows : 

' ' I embraced Christ as my Saviour in the time of 
the great revival in Tennessee, in 1817, which lasted 
about three years. I united with Brawley's Fork 
Church of United Baptists which was then working 
under the old union, the basis of which was: "The 
preaching of the doctrine that Christ died for all men 
should be no bar to fellowship," but the general 
atonement element was so hard pressed by the Cal- 
vinists that a mutual separation took place and I went 
with what was called the Browley's Fork Church of 
Separate Baptists, in 1824, who held to a general 
atonement and open communion and belonged to the 
Concord Association of Separate Baptists. In the 
summer of 1828 I was licenced to preach and left 
Tennessee and reached Gibson county, Indiana, on 
the 6th day of January, 1829. 

"As there were no Liberal Baptists in Gibson 
county at that time, I held my letter and commenced 
preaching in the country south of Princeton. In 
September, 1829, I went back to Tennessee and was 
ordained by Elders Calvin Curlee and Elisha Bell, of 
the Separate Baptists, and returned to Gibson county 
and continued preaching. In January, 1830, I con- 






IN THE UNITED STATES. 221 

stituted Enon Church, on seven members, and the 
same day received two by experience. This church 
was constituted simply as a Baptist church, holding to 
the doctrine of a general atonement and open com- 
munion. This church continued to prosper and 
sometime during the year 1830 we heard of the Gen- 
eral Baptists in Vanderburgh and Posey counties, 
Indiana. I visited one of their churches in order to 
meet Elder Stinson, but he failed to attend his ap- 
pointment and I returned home disappointed. Some- 
time during the winter of 1830 I started to Vincennes 
to enter a piece of land. As I approached White 
river I discovered a man waiting on the south side of 
the river, which proved to be Elder Benoni Stinson, 
who was also going to Vincennes to enter land. Dur- 
ing this trip we obtained a good understanding of 
each others' doctrines and finding them to perfectly 
harmonize, we, in the fall of 1831, attended the Lib- 
erty Association of General Baptists, which was held 
with old Mt. Gilead Church, near Boonville, War- 
rick county, Indiana, and there united with the Gen- 
eral Baptists and my labors have been with these peo- 
ple from that day until the present time. 

"The following statistics will, to some extent, show 
the success attending my labors from 1830 to 1881 : 

I have preached, as pastor, for eighteen churches; 



222 EARLY HISTORY 

have preached nine introductory sermons for Liberty 
Association; have acted as Moderator seventeen 
times; have attended the Association, as a delegate, 
forty-nine years out of fifty ; I have constituted and 
assisted in constituting seventeen churches, and as- 
sisted in constituting three Associations ; have united 
in marriage about one hundred and fifty couples, and 
have baptized about nine hundred. 

To-day I am eighty years old and I feel like my 
labors will soon end and that my reward is close at 
hand." 

On this occasion the brethren and friends gave 
money and other articles, to the amount of twenty- 
five dollars to elder Speer, as a birth-day present. 

Elder Speer was diligent in preaching the Word and 
soon he organized Enon Church of Baptists, near 
Princeton, Gibson county. About this time he learn- 
ed that Liberty Association of General Baptists was 
to convene in the following October, (1831) withMt. 
Gilead Church, three miles south of Boonville, War- 
rick county, Indiana. When this meeting come on 
Elder Speer and Martin Tennison, from Enon Church, 
of eleven members, appeared with a letter, asking to 
be admitted as a member of Liberty Association of 
General Baptists. This was a grand and profitable 
union. It not only gave new life to Liberty Associ- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 223 

ation, but threw a protection around Elder Speerand 
his little church at Enon which animated them to new 
action. This, the eighth meeting, numbered two 
hundred and thirty-four members, a gain of forty 
members. 

At this meeting Elder Benoni Stinson was appoint- 
ed General Missionary. 

The ninth meeting was held with Providence church 
Vanderburgh county, Indiana. Nine churches were 
represented, -with a membership of two hundred and 
ninety-seven, a gain of sixty-three. Elder Stinson, 
who had been appointed missionary at their previous 
meeting, reported that he had witnessed abouit forty 
conversions and that there was a general awakening 
among the unconverted, and that about two hundred 
were mourning on account of their sins. At the 
same time he stated that his pecuniary embarrass- 
ments had been such that he could not give much of 
his time to the work until the first of June. Since 
that time he had devoted almost all his time to mis- 
sionary work. This report so encouraged the dele- 
gates that they obligated themselves to raise $167 for 
the missionary work the following year. At this 
meeting the churches were requested to observe the 
following 25th day of December as a day of fasting 
and prayer. It is to be noted that from this meet- 
ing, at which Elder Speer and his two churches join- 



224 EARLY HISTORY 

ed the General Baptists, they steadily increased in 
numbers and influence, except two years. 

The tenth Association was held with Enon Church, 
Gibson county, it numbered three hundred and 
eighty-three members and thirty-one delegates, a net 
gain of eighty-six. 

The eleventh Association, held with Concord Church, 
Posey county, Indiana, numbered three hundred and 
seventy-three members, a loss of ten members. 

The twelfth Association, held with Providence 
Church, numbered three hundred and eighty-two 
members, a gain of nine. At this meeting a resolu- 
tion was passed in opposition to intemperance. They 
also agreed to form a Home Mission Society, at Ev- 
ansville, Indiana. • 

The thirteenth Association was held with Enon 
Church and numbered three hundred and eighty-five, 
a gain of three. Elder Lewis Gould, of the Free-Will 
Baptists, was present at this meeting. 

The fourteenth meeting was held at Mt. Giiead 
Church, Warrick county, Indiana, and numbered 
four hundred and seventy-one, a gain of eighty- 
eight. 

At this meeting they agreed to send Elder Benoni 
Stinson as a corresponding messenger to the General 
Conference of Free-Will Baptists, which met in the 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 225 

following October, in the State of Vermont. Also 
agreed to render aid to the American Foreign Bible 
Society. This ends the third chapter of our work. 



CHAPTER IV. 

In the third chapter we have traced the history of 
Liberty Association for fourteen years. In this 
chapter we begin with the fifteenth meeting which 
was held with the old Liberty Church, in Vander- 
burgh county, Indiana. The first General Baptist 
Church of Evansville and Black River Church of 
Posey county, was received at the meeting. Brother 
A. H. Polk was a delegate from the Evansville 
church. This is the first mention of his name 
in connection with Liberty Association. We 
intend in the closing chapters of this work to record 
biographical sketches of many of the Ministers of 
the General Baptist denomination, therefore they 
only will be mentioned in the general make-up of this 
work. At this meeting is the first mention we find 
of a public collection being taken to defray the ex- 
penses of the Association. 

At this meeting we hear the following resolution in 
reference to mission work. 



226 EARLY HISTORY 

' ' Resolved, that we request the Home Mission So- 
ciety to exert its utmost influence to support the 
preaching of the Gospel in our destitute churches. " 

In answer to a petition from old Liberty Church 
concerning an institution of learning is the following: 

"That three of her members of the Association 
appointed together with two gentlemen not members 
of this Association are to procure a charter from the 
legislature of the State of Indiana at its ensuing ses- 
sion and to purchase a site, erect and furnish a semi- 
nary of learning and that Col. Joseph Lane and Chas. 
D. Bourne, Esq., gentlemen who are not members of 
this Association and that Elder Benoni Stinson, Jesse 
Lane and Charles S. Weaver be appointed the Com- 
mittee. 

General prosperity now began to attend the labors 
of this devoted people. They numbered this year 
five hundred and sixty-nine, a gain of ninty-eight. 

The sixteenth session commenced with Concord 
Church in Posey county, and they have enrolled 
seven hundred and ninety one communicants, a net 
gain of two hundred and twenty-two,' and one new 
church. In reference to the "Seminary of learn- 
ing," we find this resolution : 

"That this Association ratify the acts of the 
Evansville church with reference to the proposed 
'Seminary of learning,' and that she now take the 
institution under her patronage. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 227 

"That the Board of Trustees appointed for 
the seminary last year, viz : Col. Joseph Lane, Chas. 
D. Borne, Esq., Elders Benoni Stinson, Jesse Lane 
and Brother C. S. Weaver be re-appointed and that 
Elder John B. Stinson and Brother Wm. Depriest be 
added to to the number. 

"That Elder Benoni Stinson, Jesse Lane and Geo. 
W. McAndrew be appointed agents to solicit sub- 
scriptions for and otherwise to promote the interest 
of the seminary. 

" That the seminary take the name of 'The In- 
diana General Baptist Seminary.' 

"That each member of this Association be advised 
to do all in his power by way of patronizing and 
otherwise sustaining the Institution." 

Urgent calls from Kentucky and Illinois came up 
to this meeting for Ministerial help and provisions 
were made to supply them. 

It was also resolved to appoint C. S. . Weaver to 
secure two hundred copies of "The Treaties of Faith 
of the Free-Will Baptists, for the use of this Asso- 
ciation." This action, doubtless, was conducive of 
much good in systematizing and better organizing the 
forces of the General Baptists. 

Elder John B. Stinson was called upon and re- 
ported that the Home Mission Society has become 



228 EARLY HISTORY 

inoperative. It was immediately resolved that the 
officers of the Society meet at old Liberty Church, 
on the first Wednesday in November, 1839, and re- 
vive the Society, which was not in vain, as appears 
from the report at the next meeting, which show that 
much good had been accomplished and that the So- 
ciety, at that time, (1840) was "in a flourishing con- 
dition." 

The seventeenth Association convened with Enon 
Church, in 1840. This was a successful year. They 
received nine new churches, to-wit: Grayville, Har- 
mony, Grass Creek, Caldwell, Sharon, Owensville, 
Bethlehem, Mt. Olive and Zion, their net gain was 
ninety-nine. 

At this meeting the educational interest was still 
alive and one solicitor appointed in each church rep- 
resented, to solicit funds for the seminary and report 
to Charles D. Borne, by the first of January, 1841, 
and the same trustees were continued. A committee 
consisting of Elders Benoni Stinson, John B. Stinson 
and Jesse Lane, were appointed to prepare a circular 
letter, setting fourth the fundamental doctrines of the 
General Baptists, and showing that their doctrines 
have been recognized as the doctrines of the gospel, 
by a respectable portion of the christian church from 
the days of the Apostles to the present time. Also 
requested the committee to present said circular to 
the next Association for inspection." 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 229 

The design of this circular was to show to the 
world that the opposers of the General Baptists had 
misrepresented their origin, they claiming that the 
General Baptists were no older than Elder Stinson. 

This old and false accusation has followed us into 
every new field in which we have endeavored to 
plant churches. But we rejoice that in Mr. Knight's 
history this matter is forever set at rest. Mr. Knight 
fully establishes everything which the above resolu- 
tion or request called for. 

At this, the seventeenth annual meeting, in 1840, 
the five churches south of the Ohio river were grant- 
ed letters of dismissal "for the purpose of forming a 
new Association, and appointed Elders J. B. Stinson, 
B. Stinson, J. Speer and J. Lane, a committee to 
meet said churches, viz : Sharon, Caldwell, Grass 
Creek, Chalybeat Springs and Liberty, Kentucky, at 
Caldwell Church, on Friday, October 9th, 1840, to 
constitute said Association. 

The history of this new Association, to-wit: Union, 
will follow, in its proper place. 

At this meeting we find the name of Wm. Reavis, 
jr., mentioned as a licentiate from Enon Church. 

The eighteenth meeting was held with Mt. Gilead 
Church, Warrick county, September, 1841, and ow- 
ing to the fact that the churches south of the Ohio 
river had been lettered off, to form a new Associa- 



230 EARLY HISTORY 

tion, for convenience, Liberty Association was re- 
duced to six hundred and eighty-one members. 

One of the most important moves connected, with 
the history of this people, had it been carried out, 
was made at this meeting, which was this : 

" Agreed, that a committee of one member from 
each church, be appointed to solicit subscriptions for 
the purpose of publishing a book entitled 'The His- 
tory of the General Baptists.' 

"And, it is further agreed, that Elders John B. 
Stinson, Benoni Stinson and Jesse Lane be appointed 
a committee to publish said book, provided a suffici- 
ent sum be obtained to justify the undertaking." 

As regards the duties of deacons, we find the fol- 
lowing : 

"In answer to the request of Evansville Church, 
agreed that, in the opinion of this Association, the 
official duties of a deacon are, to attend to the wants 
of the poor, and pastor of the church, and, also, to 
prepare the elements of the Lord's supper, and to 
assist in the administration of the same." 
It was further agreed, that : 

"With the consent of brother William Reavis, jr., 
that he be appointed a missionary for nine months, 
commencing the first day of January, next. " 

This is evidence of the high appreciation in which 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 231 

the Association esteemed his ministerial gifts in the 
very commencement of his ministry. 



ELDER WM. REAVIS. 

A short biographical sketch of Elder Wm. Reavis, 
written by himself, appeared in vol. 5, No. 47, of 
the old General Baptists Herald, in connection with 
the biographical sketches, which we have already 
copied, says Elder Reavis : 

"I have already mentioned the circumstance of 
having joined Enon Church, in Gibson county, Indi- 
ana, in 1839. I was sometime after this licensed to 
preach and was recommended by my church to the 
presbytery for, and received ordination, within six 
months from the time I was licenced. I had been 
bred up by the ' old school Baptist denomination ' 
and my father was a staunch Calvinistic, but my 
mother was always a believer in a general atone- 
ment. My father dying when I was young it was but 
natural that I should sympathize with my mother in 
my religious convictions, as far as I had any. From 
the time Elder Stinson began preaching in Gibson 
county, my mother encouraged me to go often and 
hear him and she often accompanied me to his meet- 



232 EARLY HISTORY 

ings. I first heard Elder Stinson preach in the month 
of June, 1826. 

"Although many years have since rolled by and I 
was but a boy at that time, an impression was, on 
that day, made upon my mind which I shall never 
forget. His sermon was on a funeral occasion and 
even the text is still remembered. Rev. 14th chap, 
and 13th verse : ' Blessed are the dead who die in 
the Lord, from henceforth; yea saith the spirit, that 
they may rest from their labors and their works do 
follow them.' Although I did not profess faith in 
Christ until the year 1839, I never forgot the lesson 
which I learned on that day. 

"It was in the month of March, in 1839, within 
one quarter of a mile of the place where I had first 
heard Elder Stinson, while setting and listening to 
my good old uncle, Stephen Strickland, sr., in an old 
school house, that I first felt that God, for Christ's 
sake, had pardoned all my sins and although the old 
school house has long been removed, I often visit 
the place with pleasure, and think of my conflicts 
and triumphs there. It was there, in that neighbor- 
hood, where I spent my boyhood days. It was there 
that I learned that I was a sinner and there where I 
first viewed, by faith, that flowing stream which is 
constantly supplied by the bleeding wounds of our 
Saviour. O, hallowed spot ! May I never cease to 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 233 

cherish the fond recollections it brings to my mind. 
The reader will excuse me for making mention of 
myself in this connection. My associations with El- 
der Stinson and the General Baptist denomination 
after this period were of such a character that I shall 
be compelled to make some allusions to myself occa- 
sionally. 

In the Autumn of 1841, Liberty Association met 
at Mt. Gilead Church, Warrick county, Indiana. 
At this meeting I was appointed to take the field as 
a general Missionary for the denomination without 
being limited. My instructions were to begin on the 
first day of January, 1842, and continue in the field 
nine months. I accordingly entered upon the work 
at the appointed time and traveled and preached in 
Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky somewhat exten- 
tively. I had many sore trials and troubles during 
this period of my life being young and inexperienced, 
but taking these nine months altogether I look back 
upon them now as the most happy and useful nine 
months I have ever realized in all my life. During 
my efforts on this Mission I preached one hundred 
and thirty-two sermons, and witnessed the conversion 
of one hundred and seventeen souls at meetings where 
I labored." 

As long as Brother Reavis remained an humble 
15 



234 EARLY HISTORY 

Minister of the Gospel, he was one among the most 
useful men that ever belonged to the General Bap- 
tist denomination, but alas, he laid aside his Minis- 
terial robes and suffered himself to be drawn into 
to politics. This was the great mistake of his life, 
and it soon brought other troubles, which caused 
Brother Reavis to quit the Ministry altogether. He 
was once Treasurer of Gibson county, Indiana, and 
once a candidate for Congress, but defeated by Hon. 
Smith Miller. 

He subsequently served as a Captian in the United 
States service in the late war, after which he es- 
tablished himself in the legal profession at Evans- 
ville, Indiana, and is now living there in very com- 
fortable circumstances. While it is much lamented 
that Elder Reavis has ceased preaching, it is gratify- 
ing to know thas he is still living and a humble Chris- 
tian, and it is hoped by many that he may soon enter 
the field again as a minister. 

The nineteenth meeting was held with Black River 
Church, in Posey county, when they numbered eight 
hundred and sixty-nine, a gain of eighty-eight, and 
two new churches were received, Union, Illinois, and 
Salem. 

It will be observed that Union Association now oc- 
cupies the territory in Kentucky, adjacent Liberty, 
so Liberty Association began to move eastward into 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 235 

Warrick andPike counties and westward into Illinois. 

Elder Wm. Reavis, who had been appointed mis- 
sionary a year before, reported his labors for the last 
nine months : 

"Showing that he had traveled over a large por- 
tion of country, preached one hundred and thirty- 
two sermons and witnessed one hundred and seven- 
teen hopeful conversions, besides giving much inter- 
esting religious information." 

A very important resolution was passed, urging 
the necessity of family devotion, which is as fol- 
lows : 

"That the heads of families be exhorted to wor- 
ship God in their houses and bring up their children 
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." 

The twentieth meeting was held with Union Church, 
Posey county. It had nine hundred and thirty-eight 
members, a gain of sixty-nine. Columbia Church 
received, T. M. Strain and J. H. Cochrum, delegates. 
This is the first mention made of Elder T. M. Strain. 

In answer to a request from Union Church, the 
following form in dismissing members by letter was 
given : 

" This is to certify that our brother A. B. is in 
good standing and full fellowship up to this date and 
is now dismissed from our watch-care." 



236 EARLY HISTORY 



ELDER GEORGE P. CAVANAH. 

Among the most distinguished names in the cata- 
logue of deceased Ministers stands that of the late 
lamented and much beloved George P. Cavanah. 
This man, like Elder Stinson, was a native Ken- 
tuckian. 

He was born in Christian county, Kentucky, on 
the eighth day of February, 1823. He was the 
the youngest son of William and Ivy Cavanah, and 
brought up under their care until he was eighteen 
years old. I will now quote from Elder Cavanah's 
own words found in a manuscript which is before me. 
"When I was eighteen years old, my father, through 
misfortune, was reduced from easy to very limited 
circumstances. All of his property, except what the 
law allowed him, was taken from him. The old 
homestead was sold at Sheriff's sale, and the law 
granted him the privilege of redemption by paying 
ten per cent, interest within twelve months. His age 
and infirmity rendered it impossible for him to redeem 
it, and the purchaser gave me the privilege of re- 
deeming the land. I was young and my associates 
being by no means calculated to encourage me in 
the undertaking, I resolved too seek employment in 
other parts, and accordingly I prepared to leave 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 237 

those parts rendered dear to me by scenes of my 
childhood. About the 20th of February, 1840, I 
left my fathers house in company with a young man 
by the name of Thos. Pool, who resided in Hender- 
son county, Kentucky. Through his solicitations I 
made up my mind to try my fortune in that county. 
Upon my arrival there I was taken sick and after a 
weeks' confinement I was again partially restored to 
health. I heard of employment in Hopkins county, 
some ten miles distant and I immediately returned 
that far to apply for the place and was successful. I 
remained here some six weeks and returned again to 
Henderson county and engaged with Mr. B. W. 
Handley and Herbert Baldwin to make a crop. Dur- 
ing the spring and summer my health was fully re- 
stored. I found my new home quite agreeable in 
some respects, in others rather unpleasent. These 
two men seemed to take a deep interest in my wel- 
fare and always gave me good advice. 

The season was favorable and we raised a good 
crop of tobacco, but before we could get our tobacco 
in market the term for the redemption of my fath- 
er's land had expired. My employers assisted me 
in borrowing the money and I went and redeemed 
the land in due time. This involved me in debt and 
feeling under obligation to my two friends, Baldwin 
and Handley, I set in with them for the second crop. 



238 EARLY HISTORY 

I became acquainted with a couple of ministers of 
the gospel, who were preaching in that section, by 
the name of George W. McAndrew and James Hunt. 
Under their labors I became concerned about my 
soul's salvation. My associations, to some extent, 
were unfavorable to religion. My employers were 
religious men and gave me all the encouragement 
that I could have asked but my favorite young men, 
with whom I associated, were very rude. From 
them I received no encouragement. I was for a 
long time vascilating, sometimes I was deeply con- 
cerned, at other times I felt indifferent. I continued 
in this state until some time in the summer of 1842. 
During that season there was a considerable revival 
of religion in the neighborhood where I lived. I at- 
tended these meetings and resolved that I would re- 
nounce all my sins and give my heart to the Lord. 
After I had formed this resolution I was very attent- 
ive to what I was told to be my duty. I was particu- 
larly attentive to secret prayer, so much so, that I 
settled down in a kind of stupor in my feelings and 
would sometimes reason with myself in this way : 
Well, I have done my duty and I guess the Lord 
will save me, ultimately; however, my soul became 
unusually burdened and attendance to secret prayer 
failed to bring that temporary comfort to my mind. 
I attended a meeting in the settlement. Mourners 
were invited and I distinguished myself as a seeker 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 239 

after the Word of Life. I then exhausted all my 
strength pleading and crying for mercy, and after my 
strength failed, yea, after prayers and tears failed to 
bring salvation to my poor agonizing soul, for want of 
strength, I began to look around for help. I could 
find no earthly power that could administer the balm. 
Last of all, I turned my eyes towards Him who was 
once a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. To 
my great surprise, instead of looking on me with in- 
dignation I beheld a reconciled countenance, and in- 
stead of spurning me from his presence he seemed to 
speak in sweet accents of love and said : Thy sins are 
all forgiven thee ; take my yoke upon you and you 
shall find rest for your soul. I found myself in an 
extacy of delight in a moment, under his smiles and 
felt myself united to his people by an indisoluble tie 
of love. 

An opportunity was given, the same night, being 
the 6th of September, 1842, and I united with the 
General Baptist church and submitted to the ordi 
nance of baptism some few days after my unition 
with the church, by Elder James M. Hunt. I was 
still enthralled for a portion of the money that I had 
borrowed to redeem my father's land, which confined 
me to constant labor and deprived me of the many 
privileges I might otherwise have enjoyed. During 
that fall and winter I attended with the brethren in 



240 EARLY HISTORY 

weekly prayer meetings and was frequently urged 
forward in exhortation. Nothing so delighted me as 
to be engaged in those social prayer meetings. My 
desire to serve God for what he had done for me in- 
creased daily. 

In the spring of 1843 the church recommended 
me to the presbytery. Accordingly I attended pres- 
bytery, was examined and licensed to preach on the 
15th day of April, 1843, Elder Geo. W. McAndrew 
presiding, I proceeded immediately to the work of the 
ministry. I employed myself in teaching a primary 
school for a livelihood and preached what I could 
during the spring and summer. 

In the fall the Union Association met in the settle- 
ment where I lived and I attended. Elder Benoni 
Stinson was there and he prevailed on me to go to 
school. It was with no small degree of embarrass- 
ment that I consented to do so on account of my 
pecuniary circumstances, but some of my brethren 
joined with Brother Stinson and promised to assist 
me. I now commenced making preparations to at- 
tend school the following winter. In the month of 
November, 1843, I set out for the State of Indiana 
and crossed the Ohio river at Henderson, walked 
some four miles up the river to the house of James 
Starnes, Esq., where I was kindly received by the 
family and hospitably entertained until the day fol- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 241 

lowing, which being church meeting day, I attended 
church and listened to Elder Benoni Stinson, who 
was pastor of the church. I accompanied Brother 
Stinson to his home where I remained a week, dur- 
ing which time I was agreeably entertained both by 
the family and the library of Elder Stinson, and here 
it was agreed that I should attend a district school 
taught by Brother W. W. Willard, who was a com- 
petent teacher and that I should board with Brother 
Starnes." 

This is all the data I have from his pen as regards 
his life, but it is enough to give the outlines of a 
character so noble and so pure, that the reader will 
not be surprised to learn that Elder Cavanah became 
one of the brightest stars and ablest preachers, not 
only as compared with General Baptist Ministers, 
but with those of any denomination in this part of 
the country of whom I have any knowledge. He 
did not receive anything more than a good common 
school education, but he applied himself so closely 
that he was well versed in the English branches of 
learning and very well read in theology as a preacher, 
his style was not only dignified, but his reasoning 
was clear and convincing and his logic was irresista- 
ble, his gestures were fine and manly and his voice 
was full of pathos and tenderness. He was so kind, 
so loving and so affectionate in his manner that he 



242 EARLY HISTORY 

won the affectionate regard not only of his own 
people, but of many who belonged to other denomi- 
nations. I once heard a distinguished Minister of 
the Methodist Church remark, that for natural ability 
as a gospel Minister he had never heard any man, 
who was superior to George P. Cavanah. From the 
time that Elder Cavanah took the field next to Elder 
Stinson, he was certainly the most eminent and useful 
of all the General Baptist ministers known to me. His 
preaching was listened to by great crowds of people 
wherever he was known and his very name became a 
tower of strength to the denomination. After mar- 
rying a Miss Lydia Robb, of Posey county, Indi- 
ana, he settled down in Owensville, Indiana. He 
lived in Indiana from the time he crossed the Ohio 
river to receive a better education. He made his 
home a part of the time in Gibson and a part of the 
time in Posey county, and for some years he was 
pastor of Mt. Pleasant Church, in the latter and to 
Owensville Church in the former named county, 
where he was most distinguished for his usefulness, 
but beside this his ministrations took a much wider 
range. Being thoroughly imbued with a missionary 
spirit he often visited the out-posis of the denomina- 
tion not only in Indiana, but in Kentucky and Illi- 
nois, also. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 243 

It was a great relief to Elder Stinson, as I have 
often heard him say, to know that he had such strong 
support as Elder Cavanah", who was his co-worker in 
every movement which was gotten up for the ad- 
vancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. 

Elder Stinson had taken this man by the hand 
when he had first set foot on Indiana soil, as a mere 
boy, assisted in his education, opened to him his 
house, together with his library, and it was there at 
"Goshen Farm," the name of Elder Stinson' s old 
homestead, on the banks of the beautiful Ohio river, 
where young Cavanah laid the foundation for that 
brilliant career which afterwards gave him so much 
distinction, but so bright a star and so brilliant a ge- 
nius was not destined to remain long on earth. Elder 
Cavanah began to decline in health soon after he be- 
gan to preach. From his boyhood he had seen 
trouble; to see his aged parents suddenly plunged 
from a position of comparative wealth to dependence, 
their old homestead, dear alike to him and them, 
sold under the hammer of the sheriff, for the debts of 
another and then the struggle of young Cavanah, 
both physically and mentally, he toiled for years to 
restore to his parents their home. Although, like 
the hero he was, he gained the victory, yet it told 
heavily upon his constitution in so much that he nev- 
er recovered from it." 



244 EARLY HISTORY 

It is true, Elder Cavanah rallied and went out 
cheerfully in the great gospel field and did noble 
work but it was also true that he did this work with 
great pain. 

His young trouble and other earthly troubles, not 
necessary to mention here, so weighed upon his spirit 
that he, like our dear Saviour in that respect, was, 
indeed, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 
Never shall I forget how solemn and grave he looked 
especially in the pulpit. His face betokened much 
thought and deep feeling, and great sorrows had left 
an imprint there which could be noticed by the cas- 
ual observer. He was not always serious. He 
could occasionally enjoy a joke with his friends, but 
his general deportment was very grave and he gave 
much of his time to the work. It was his mete to 
do his Masters' will. He was thoroughly in earnest 
in the great work to which he felt himself called and 
but for pecuniary embarasment would have given his 
whole time to the cause of Christ. As I have un- 
dertaken to vindicate the truth of history, I must say 
our brethren did not support Elder Cavanah as he 
should have been supported. Many of the brethren, 
it is true, gave to him liberally but this spirit of liber- 
ality in support of the gospel was not as general to- 
wards him as it should have been. He had some- 
times to quit the field in the midst of his usefulness 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 245 

and engage, for a time, in secular pursuits, such 
as teaching school or standing in a store, for subsist- 
ance. Nothing so discourages a good man engaged 
in an honorable calling as a want of a proper appre- 
ciation of his services and this is more keenly felt by 
the true minister of the gospel than any other class. 
I think that this neglect was one of the causes of 
deep sorrows which followed Elder Cavanah to the 

grave. 

Before he died, Elder Cavanah compiled, for the 

General Baptists, an elegant hymn book which has 
gone through several editions and it has been the most 
popular hymn book ever used by our people and it is 
still in much demand by our denomination. 

It is much to be regreted that he left no written 
sermons behind him. He was not in the habit of 
writing his sermons however. He occasionally used 
notes on special occasions, but generally preached 
without looking at his theme. His mind was 
so clear and his memory so good, that he did 
not need such help, but he is known to have been a 
good writer. He had the happy faculty of condens- 
ing much in a short space. If he had undertaken it, 
I am of the opinion he would have made an excel- 
lent editor. Among the men of culture among us 
he was, perhaps, the most prominent. His talents 
were of such an order that he could have interested 



246 EARLY HISTORY 

learned audiences and profound thinkers, in any of 
the great cities on our continent. He was, indeed, 
a workman that need not be ashamed. 

Pressed down with the weight and burdens of 
which we have already made mention, he lived on, 
a spotless life, never having, at any time, brought 
reproach on the cause which he had espoused. He 
recognized the hand of God in all his afflictions and 
never lost sight of the "work of the prize." 

After suffering long and much he closed his eyes 
on earth to open his spiritual eyes in our Father's 
house, where there are many mansions. He died at 
Owensville, Gibson county, Indiana, on the 20th 
of September, 1863, aged forty years, seven months 
and twelve days. His remains now rest in the cem- 
etry near White or Columbia Church, about three 
miles southwest of Princeton, Indiana. 

Brethren of the General Baptist denomination, 
you cannot recall our beloved and lamented Cavanah 
to do any act of kindness to him, personally, but 
have we not young ministers amoung us who have 
families to support and some of them young men of 
much promise of usefulness as ministers. If so, let 
us see to it, that they shall not be neglected. Let 
them be paid for their services and their temporal 
affairs so arranged that they can lay aside all worldly 
cares and devote their entire time to their calling. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 247 

Notwithstanding Elder Cavanah was so popular, he 
was so good, loving and kind to all, that no minister 
could ever find it in his heart to hold any jealousies 
against him. I have seen many of his survivors in 
the ministry weep when the name of Cavanah was 
mentioned in connection with the enterprise of the 
church in his day. He believed that every truly re- 
generated person was one in Christ, their head, and 
as such had a right to commune together at the Lord's 
Supper. Probably through his instrumentality as 
much was done to firmly establish this practice among 
General Baptists as any other man in the denomina- 
tion. 

We have only written biographical sketches of 
such living ministers as are so connected with the or- 
ganization of the several Associations that it is im- 
possible to give the origin of the Association with- 
out making mention of the men in such movement. 

Besides this, there are serious objections to writing 
up the history of ministers living. All men are sus- 
ceptable of flattery and their future usefulness being 
destroyed, some who have gone out from us and 
afterwards did and said a great many hard things 
against the General Baptists, had, probably, by the 
flattery of the churches, placed too great an estimate 
on themselves and, therefore, brought reproach upon 
the cause, and as it is both as a man lives and dies 



248 EARLY HISTORY 

that constitutes the true character, we will not write 
too many living biographies. 

However, brother Reavis left a few on record, 
among which are the names of Elders T. M. Strain 
and I. H. Henry, which we will give a place in this 
work. 

Elder Thomas M. Strain was born in Gibson coun- 
ty, Indiana, December 21st, 1815. His father and 
mother died when he was a small boy and he was 
left to make his way in the world the best he could. 
He managed to make a living, but as there were no 
free schools he neither had time nor means to educate 
himself. September 12th, 1839, he was married to 
Miss Mary Lagrange. In the spring of 1842 he be- 
came deeply concerned ahout the salvation of his 
soul and soon after made an open profession of re- 
ligion. 

He united with the General Baptist church at 
Enon, Gibson county, Indiana, and was baptized by 
Elder Jacob Speer, whom he claims as his spiritual 
father and was licenced by the presbytery, at Enon, 
in 1845, and was ordained to the full work of the 
ministry on the first day of November, 1847, at 
Owensville, by Elders Jacob Speer, G. P. Cavanah 
and Benoni Stinson. 

Elder Strain's conversion and call to the ministry 
were noted events, and they marked an era of pros- 
perity in the history of oldLiberty Association and 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 249 

the General Baptist cause generally, which I, as a 
faithful historian, cannot afford to overlook or ignore. 

Like all other faithful ministers he had many strug- 
gles and great difficulties to overcome before enter- 
ing the gospel field. He had but little education, a 
young wife and family dependent upon him for sup- 
port and with all, he, like Moses, had a stammering 
tongue. But he had such love and zeal for the cause 
of the Master, that he overcome all obstacles, by the 
grace of God, which was freely bestowed upon him. 

Thus by God's help the poor stammering boy be- 
came a fluent speaker and a successful preacher and 
for more than a third of a century he has labored 
sometimes as a pastor and sometimes a missionary 
preaching nearly every Sunday and sometimes 
many days through the week to large congregations 
and making himself useful to the denomination in 
many ways. 

Added to his talents as a successful gospel minister 
Elder Strain is a successful business man and by his 
own exertions he, as a merchant, accumulated a good 
living and is not dependent on the church for a sup- 
port. 

It is his opinion, however, that they who preach 
the gospel should live by the gospel or be well sup- 
ported in the work. By his urgent personal appea 
16 



250 EARLY HISTORY 

to the brethren at each annual Association, mission- 
ary meeting and church dedication he has raised more 
money for the General Baptist people than any living 
man in the denomination. 

By his exertions more than that of any other man, 
the church houses of Columbia, (White Church) 
Enon and Ft. Branch, in Gibson county, Indiana, 
were built, besides, I don't know how many other 
churches he has assisted in building. Elder Strain 
does not pretend to be a deep doctrinal preacher nor 
does he use high flowing words of mens' wisdom, 
but for correctness, native eloquence and deep pa- 
thos he has few equals. His sermons therefore, par- 
take more oi the practical and experimental than the 
ornate. He has social qualities of the highest order 
and his company is so pleasant that it is sought for 
and enjoyed by all ages and sex. He has on hand 
a constant fund of wit and humor, together with an- 
ecdotes, by the use of which I have known him to 
convulse large congregations with laughter while 
taking up collections at annual Associations. 

He is now growing old but if the prayers of his 
many friends can avail he will live long and enjoy 
the blessings which cluster around a life of useful- 
ness. 

At this meeting, in 1843 ; a letter was received 
from Elder Joseph Wasson, of the Wabash Christian 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 251 

Conference, desiring a union with the General Bap- 
tists. Elders Jesse Lane, Wm. Reavis and Benoni 
Stinson were appointed to answer said letter. " Refer- 
red a letter previously received from Union Associa- 
tion on the subject of establishing a religious newspa- 
per, to a select committee, consisting of brethren De- 
priest, Speer, Willard and Polk." 

The commitee to whom this matter was referred, 
"reported unfavorable to the establishment of a relig- 
ious newspaper." 

The 21st meeting was held with Owensville, Gib- 
son county, eight hundred and forty-eight members, 
loss ninety. Skillet Fork Church, in White county, 
Illinois, received. 

Elders G. P. Cavanah and W. W. Jenkens were 
delegates from Union Association. 

This is the first mention made of Elder Cavanah, 
that humble, talented, logical, eloquent and beloved 
disciple, and here we will insert his biography. (See 
biography.) 

Touching fidelity to the church or church attend- 
ance, I find this resolution : 

"That in the opinion of this Association, if any 
male member of any of our churches fails to attend 
the meetings of the church of which he ia a member 
for six successive meetings, except absent on business 



252 EARLY HISTORY 

or in case of sickness, is unworthy of fellowship and 
should be dropped from the communion." 

The Association recommended the churches to. ob- 
tain ' 'some suitable minister to preach once a year 
on the mode, subject and design of baptism, the du- 
ties of ministers to churches and the churches to the 
ministers." 

Resolved, "That the Association procure a book 
and appoint some suitable person to transcribe into it 
all of the former minutes of our Association and that 
in the future we will keep a regular record of all 
our proceedings. 

A. H. Polk was appointed to transcribe the same." 

I presume that brother Polk did the work assigned 
him but I doubt very much if that work was follow- 
ed up. I am of the opinion that there is but one 
complete file of all the proceedings of Liberty Asso- 
ciation from the organization to the present and that 
has been preserved by Elder Jacob Speer and is be- 
fore me at present. Too many throw our minutes 
aside and think that they are of no use after the first 
reading, but we should remember that it is from our 
minutes that we get our history. 
p The writer has in his possession all of the minutes 
of the General Association. He has made diligent 
inquiry and does not know of another complete file, 
except one kept by Major J. B. Cox, nearEvansville, 
Indiana. 



IN THE UNI i ED STATES. 253 

It appears that at this early period our people saw 
and felt the necessity of a concentrated effort, as at 
this meeting they made overtures to Union Associa- 
tion to hold a General Association every two years. 
Whether this was reciprocated or not does not appear. 
However, we know that the two Associations have 
ever continued to work with and for each other, and 
an almost unbroken correspondence continued be- 
tween them. 

The twenty-second meeting convened with Mt. 
Gilead Church, Warrick County, and had eight hun- 
dred members. 

At this meeting Elder Benoni Stinson was appoint- 
ed to superintend the organization of Sabbath schools 
throughout the Association. Also, the following res- 
olution was passed in reference to a religious, tri- 
monthly paper, published at that time : 

"That, in the opinion of this Association the Gen- 
eral Baptist Herald, edited by Elders B. Stinson and. 
Wm. Reavis, jr., is worthy of a liberal patronage 
and that we not only approve of it, but encourage its 
circulation and that the Association appoint a com- 
mittee to take charge of the paper as their own prop- 
erty and, if possible publish it weekly." 

This is the first effort made by the General Baptists 
in the West to publish a denominational paper. 

The twenty-third meeting was held with Owens- 



254 EARLY HISTORY 

ville Church, in 1846, reported eight hundred and 
thirty-four members. 

A constitution for a Home Mission Society was 
adopted at this meeting. 

Also, " Application was made by Elder Jacob 
Holeman, for ministerial aid to assist in constituting 
an Association at Caldwell Church, in Caldwell coun- 
ty, Kentucky," on Friday before the second Sabbath 

in October, 1856. 

"Elders J. B. and B. Stinson and Jacob Speer 
were appointed for this purpose" and organized Cum- 
berland Association. 

This took place six years after Union Association 
was organized. 

Further mention of this body will be made at the 
proper time. 

On receiving testimony against an offending mem- 
ber we find the following resolution : 

"That, in the opinion of the Association no evi- 
dence ought to be taken against members of our 
churches, from out of the churches, except circum- 
stances corroborate such testimony; but when the 
evidence is clear, the circumstances strong and the 
character of the witness good, the church may ex- 
clude, but even then it should be done with great 
caution. 

The twenty-fourth meeting convened with Enon 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 255 

Church, Gibson county, in 1847, and reported seven 
hundred and fifty-eight members. 

The twenty-fifth meeting was held with Zion Church 
Vanderburgh county, September, 1848 and number- 
ed seven hundred and seventy-seven members ; two 
churches were received, Sharon and Honey Creek. 

The twenty-sixth meeting was held with Columbia 
Church, September, 1849 and numbered seven hun- 
dred and fifteen members. 

The twenty seventh meeting was held with Mt 
Pleasant Church, Posey county, in 1850, and num- 
bered six hundred and eighteen members. Two 
new churches, Bethany and Mt. Zion, were received. 

At this meeting a letter of correspondence was 
sent to the General Baptists in the State of Alabama. 
Also, we note the death of Elder John B. Stinson. 

ELDER JOHN B. STINSON 

Was born in Virgina, March 1st, 1787, of English 
parents, and learned the coopers' trade, which was 
the vocation of his father. At the age of twenty 
years he started to the Territory of Indiana, but meet- 
ing some friend, he stopped near Sandy Ridge, in 
Kentucky, and followed his trade. Here he met 
Matilda Paine, and they were married and moved 



256 EARLY HISTORY 

down the Ohio river to Henderson county, Ken- 
tucky. 

In 1809, he came to Vanderburgh county, Indi- 
ana, and settled just below where Evansville now 
stands. In 1810, the Indians became so troublesome 
that he was compelled to seek refuge in a fort in. Ken- 
tucky. Those were perilous times. The river was 
frozen over, but not strong enough to bear up stock 
and the family crawled over on their hands and knees, 
pulling their bedding after them. He remained un- 
der the protection of the fort for some time. He 
was living in Indiana, in 1814, when General Jack- 
son's fleet of dug-outs passed down, to fight the bat- 
tle of New Orleans. In the same year he enlisted in 
the 10th regiment of Militia of Indiana Territory 
and proved a good soldier. He was rewarded by 
being commissioned a Captain in the 10th regiment, 
on the 27th of June, 1814, by Governor Thos. Posey, 
and did good service during the indian troubles. In 
1818 Governor Jonathan Jennings commissioned 
John B. Stinson sheriff of Vanderburgh county, bear- 
ing date of the second year of Indiana as a State, to 
serve until the general election. After retiring from 
the sheriff's office he run trading boats on the Ohio 
river and accumulated considerable property. In 
1821 he was commissioned Major of the 10th regi- 
ment of militia by Governor Jennings. During the 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 257 

Harrison Indian war he was a sturdy soldier and well 
beloved by his men and comrades. He was Probate 
Judge for several years, also Associate Judge with 
Judge Hall. 

John B. Stinson united with Liberty Church of 
General Baptists, October 5th, 1823, this being the 
day that this church was organized. In October, 
1824, he was licensed to preach the gospel of Christ, 
and was ordained to the full work of the ministry in 
April, 1825, by Elders Benoni Stinson and D. R. 
Jacobs, and Deacon Benjamin McNew. He was an 
able and efficient minister in the General Baptist de- 
nomination, and considered the best disciplinarian 
belonging to it, in his day. 

While Jesse Lane, sr., was laboring continually in 
revivals and Benoni Stinson preaching those deep 
doctrinal sermons, John B. Stinson was following 
closely with bis organizing powers, which gave 
strength and permanency to the cause. 

He died in Vanderburgh county, March 17th, 
1850, being sixty-three years and seventeen days old. 
His wife died thirteen years later, in 1863, being 
seventy-two years old. They left seven children, viz : 
Berry T. Stinson, Benoni Stinson, H. Clay Stinson, 
Mrs. Nancy Calloway, Mrs. Saleta Evans, Mrs. 
Fanny T. Green and Mrs. Missouri Stinson. 



258 EARLY HISTORY 

We are indebted to Maj. J. B. Cox for the above 
sketch. 

The twenty-eighth meeting was held with Mt. Gil- 
ead Church, Warrick county, in 1851, and number- 
ed seven hundred and sixty-two members, and Wa- 
bash Church was received. 

Elder H. A. Greggs presented a plan for the com- 
pilation of a General Baptist Hymn Book, which was 
approved. This was the first Hymn Book published 
by the General Baptists in the United States. 

We note the death of Elder Jesse Lane, at this 

meeiing. Thus, in the short period of two years, 
two of the fathers of Liberty Association passed away 
in death. 

The twenty-ninth meeting convened with Black 
River Church, Posey county, in 1852, and numbered 
nine hundred and ten. 

At this meeting the Association was layed off into 
four districts, in which quarterly and other meetings 
were to be held. Elder Jacob Speer was to superin- 
tend the meetings in the first district, Elder G. P. 
Cavanah, the second, Elder S. Rhoads, the third 
and Elder Benoni Stinson the fourth. 

"These superintendents were requested to meet 
for the purpose of consultation, at Columbia Church, 
on Saturday, before the first Sabbath in January, 1852 
at Mt. Gilead Church, on Saturday, before the sec- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 259 

ond Sabbath in March, 1853." This plan proved 
beneficial, as appears from their increase in member- 
ship in this year. 

The thirtieth meeting was held with Owensville 
Church, in 1853, and numbered 1061 members. 
Three new churches were received, viz: Richland, 
Otter Creek and Keg Creek. 

Elder B. Stinson was appointed General Mission- 
ary and the district remained unchanged. 

Elder Price took the place of Elder Rhoades in 
the third district. 

The thirty-first meeting was held with Union 
Chureh, Posey county, in 1854, and numbered 971 
members and six new churches were received, to-wit: 
Barren, Providence, Bethabra, Hickory Hill, Arring- 
ton Prairie and Union. 

"Corresponding letters were called for, whereupon 
Elders H. S. Gordon and R. A. Bradley presented 
a copy of the minutes of the Free Communion Bap- 
tist Association and desired to open a correspond- 
ence with us." 

"Elder Benoni Stinson, Alvah Parker, James W. 
Gwin, were appointed as corresponding delegates to 
the Free Communion Baptist Association, in Illinois 
and empowered to make any arrangement they may 
think proper, to effect a union between said Associa- 
tion and our denomination." 



260 EARLY HISTORY 

We presume a union was effected and the Free 
Communion Baptists adopted our articles of faith 
and took the name of the Southern Illinois Associa- 
tion of General Baptists. This took place in 1854 
or 1855. 

Elder Speer was appointed General Missionary 
from April 1st to the next meeting, in 1855. 

The thirty-second meeting was held with Columbia 
Church. Gibson county, and numbered 1108 men- 
bers. Barren Fork Church was received at this meet- 
ing. 

The thirty-third meeting was held with Enon 
Church, Gibson county, in 1856, and numbered 1109 
members and one new church, Bethlehem, was re- 
ceived. 

At this meeting the Ohio Association of General 
Baptists presented a petition for correspondence with 
us, and after satisfactory examination as to their faith 
and practice, their representatives, Elders John Greg- 
ory and John Onyet, were invited to seats in council 
with us and we agreed to correspond with them." 

It was further resolved, at this meeting : 

That, "The churches can dismiss members by let- 
ter, only, and that in all cases where they cannot 
consistently give a letter, there is no alternative but to 
exclude." 

The following, touching the reception of members 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 261 

into the visible church, it having been presented to 
the church a year before, for their endorsement: 

"That persons are received into any branch of the 
visible church by a manifestation of fellowship, upon 
satisfactory evidence of christian experience and a 
pledge of submission to the ordinance of baptism, at 
the earliest convenient opportunity, and a failure to 
comply with their pledge forfeits their connection 
with the church. 

The thirty-fourth meeting was held with Owens- 
ville Church, Gibson county, in 1857, and numbered 
1157 members, and one new church was received, 
viz: New Liberty. 

At this meeting we note the death of "Elder Thos. 
Fuller, who had been preaching for over thirty years." 

For the want of means, the Academy, of which 
we have frequently spoken, in the preceeding pages 
of this book, went down. At the meeting in 1857, 
we find our people laboring to revive this interest 
again. 

"Elders T. M. Strain, Jacob Speer, G. P. Cava- 
nah, B. Stinson and brother Henry Ayers, were ap- 
pointed a committee to select a site and solicit sub- 
scriptions for an institution of learning, to be called 
the General Baptist Academy, and report at our next 
meeting." 

The thirty-fifth meeting was held with Mt. Pleas- 



262 EARLY HISTORY 

ant Church, Posey county, in 1858, and numbered 
1375 members. One new church, Patoka, was re- 
ceived. 

At this meeting we find our people laboring in 
behalf of a denominational paper, viz: "The Gen- 
eral Baptist Banner." At the same time they were 
endeavoring to concentrate their forces into a general 
Association. 

At this time, (1858) they numbered five Annual 
Associations, to-wit : Liberty, Union, Cumberland, 
Southern Illinois and Ohio, also the work on the 
Academy was continued. The Association request- 
ed Elder Cavanah to compile a General Baptist 
Hymn Book. 

The thirty sixth meeting was held with Mt. Gilead 
Church, Warrick county, in 1859, and numbered 
1383 members. One new church, Cynthiana, was 

received. 

The United Association of General Baptists, which 

had been organized in Pike county, in August, of 
the same year, (1859) on our articles of faith, made 
application through her Messengers, Elder R. Voils 
and Temple Woolsy, for a correspondence with us, 
which was heartily reciprocated, and the following 

churches, "Mt. Olive, Bethabra, Otter Creek, Mt. 
Gilead, Richland, Bethany and Sharon dismissed by 
letter from this Association, when joined to the Unit- 
ed Association of General Baptists." 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 263 

The thirty-seventh meeting was held with Colum- 
bia Church, Cibson county, in 1860, and numbered 
1110 members. Four new churches, Union Chapel, 
Mt. Pleasant, Clear Creek and Johnson Prairie were 
received. 

Again our people embarked on the enterprise of 
publishing a denominational paper and elected a 
board of managers for that purpose, consisting of El- 
ders T. M. Strain, J. P. McClure, Solomon Reavis, 
Richey Summers and Newton Skelton. 

We are informed by Elder Strain that after each 
member of the committee had made a considerable 
sacrifice of money and time they were compelled to 
cease publishing their paper. 

The thirty-eighth meeting was held with Owens- 
ville Church, in Gibson county, in 1861, and num- 
bered 1133 members. Two new churches, Prince- 
ton and Pleasant Grove, were received. 

At this meeting a letter of correspondence was re- 
ceived from the Shelby Association of Separate Bap- 
tists, in Central Illinois, by the hand of their Mes- 
senger, Elder Willis Whitfield, who was from the 
same Association in Tennessee, to which Elder Jacob 
Speer formerly belonged. 

This correspondence was gladly received and El- 
der Benoni Stinson appointed to visit those brethren, 



264 EARLY HISTORY 

in order to form a more perfect union. Elder Stin- 
son visited Shelby Association and a friendly corres- 
pondence has been carried on ever since. The 
writer has been intimately acquainted with many of 
these people for about thirteen years. Many of them 
desire to take the name, General Baptists, and are of 
the opinion that the time is in the near future when 
Shelby, Ambraw, Central Indiana, White River, Sand 
Creek and some other Associations of Separate Bap- 
tists, will unite with our General Association, and 
take the name General Baptist. This is much to be 
desired, because the General and Separate Baptists 
are one and the same people. 

The thirty-ninth meeting was held with Ft. Branch 
Church, Gibson county, in 1862, and numbered 1118 
members. One new church, Baren Chapel, was re- 
ceived. 

The fortieth meeting was held with Johnson Prai- 
rie Church, Wayne county, Illinois, in 1863, and 
numbered 1213 members. Two new churches, Wil- 
low Branch and New Salem, were received. 

Elder T. M. Strain was appointed General Mis- 
sionary for the ensuing year, he to depend on the lib 
erality of the churches for support. 

The forty-first meetingVas^held with Oakland City 
hurch, Gibson county, in 1864, and numbered 1200 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 265 

members. Two new churches, Union Bethel and 
Palestine. 

At this meeting resolutions were passed on the 
state and condition of our country, setting fourth the 
integrity of this Association in support of constitu- 
tional liberty. 

Johnson Prairie, Mt. Pleasant, Illinois, Arrington 
Prairie and Willow Branch Churches, were dismissed 
from this Association, by request, and Elders Jacob 
Speer and Benoni Stinson appointed to organize them 
into a new Association. Thus originated the Union 
Grove Association, in 1864. 

The following resolution was adopted : 

That, "This Association learns, with deep and 
heartfelt sorrow, of the death of Elder G. P. Cava- 
nah, and that Elder Benoni Stinson is hereby ap- 
pointed to preach his funeral, to-morrow, at eleven 
o'clock." 

The forty-second meeting was held with Barren 
Chapel Church, Gibson county, in 1865, and num- 
bered 1128 members. 

"Elder A. H. Polk was appointed General Mis- 
sionary for the ensuing year, and Solomon Reavis 
J. P. McClure, Newton Skelton, R. B. Richards 
and L. L. Montgomery were appointed a committee 

to raise means" to pay brother Polk. 
17 



266 EARLY HISTORY 

The forty third meeting was held with Mt. Pleas- 
ant, Posey county, in 1866, and numbered 1310 
members* Three new churches, Wabash, Hazleton 
and Franklin Chapel were received. 

At this metting "a letter of correspondence was 
received from the Wayne county, Illinois, Quarterly 
Meeting of Free-Will Baptists, and her Messengers, 
Elders M. A. Shepard and John Rhoads, were invit- 
ed to seats in council." 

The committee appointed in 1865, on Domestic 
Missions, reported that they had collected $371 20 
and paid out the same to Elder A. H. Polk and 
T. M. Strain, for missionary labor. 

The 44th meeting was held with Enon Church, in 
1867 and numbered 1412 members. Three new 
churches, Bethlehem, east of Owensville, Mt. Moria, 
in Posey county, Independence, in Evansville. 

The writer was a delegate to this Association from 
Owensville Church, and learned, at this time, that 
Oakland Institute was under consideration at this 
meeting. 

The following resolution was adopted at this meet- 
ing: 

That, "We invite the various Associations and 
other bodies of christians, who hold and teach the 
doctrines of general atonement and moral agency, 
and accountability, and who administer baptism by 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 267 

immersion only, and are liberal in their communion, 
to meet, by delegates, at Ft. Branch, on Thursday, 
before the fourth Lord's day, in May, 1868, for gen- 
eral consultation, and especially to consider the pro- 
priety of permanently organizing a general associa- 
tion for more thorough co-operation in spreading the 

gospel." 

At the appointed time and place, quite a number 
of liberal Baptists, holding to the doctrines set fourth 
in the above resolution, met and the consultations 
were harmonious and pleasant and promised to be 
beneficial. 

This convention adjourned to meet with Liberty 
Association, in September, 1368. 

At this, the forty-fourth meeting of Liberty Asso- 
ciation, of which we are now writing, (1867) the 
mission board reported that they had collected and 
paid Elder Polk $482 30 for missionary labor. 

The forty-fifth meeting was held with Columbia 
Church, near Princeton, in 1868, and numbered 
1653 members and three new churches, Mt. Olive, 
Beech Grove and Atioch, Wabash county, Illinois, 
were received. 

We had at this meeting the most extended corres- 
pondence of any in our history. Besides Southern 
Illinois, Union and Cumberland, of Kentucky, and 
United, of Indiana, all of which were General Bap- 



268 EARLY HISTORY 

tists, the following Free-Will Baptist bodies were rep- 
resented : 

"From the Wayne county Quarterly Meeting, El- 
ders J. Rhoads and R. P. Lee; from Maine Westerly 
Yearly Meeting, Rev. J. O. Libby; Ohio and Penn- 
sylvania, Yearly Meeting, Rev. Dunn, Professor of 
Bibilical Theology, in Hillsdale Colege, Rev. L. P. 
Thompson and Rev. G. P. Blanchard; Wisconsin 
Yearly Meeting, Rev. E. D. Lewis." 

After the Association had become fully organized 
it "yielded to the convention of Liberal Baptists, 
which adjourned its May session to this time and 
place." " The convention adjourned, and the Mod- 
erator called the Association to order. The Presi- 
dent of the Convention, Rev. C. O. Libby, reported 
to the Association a resolution adoped by the Con- 
vention, which, after amendment, was adopted by 

the Association, as follows : 

That, "The object contemplated in the original 

resolution calling the convention, can best be accom- 
plished by the various Associations sending delegates 
and applying for membership in the General Confer- 
ence of Free-Will Baptists, to be held in Buffalo, 
New York, commencing October 8th, 1868, and gen- 
erally co-operating with them, retaining such names 
and usages as they may prefer." 

' ' Upon the adoption of this resolution the Associ- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 269 

ation proceeded to the election of a delegate to the 
Conference, which resulted in the choice of Elder A. 
H. Polk." 

Elder T. M. Strain volunteered to go with Elder 
Polk. They went to the Shelby Association of Sepa- 
rate Baptists as delegates from Liberty Association, 
and that Association appointed Elder Joseph Pery- 
man a delegate to the Free-Will Baptist General Con- 
ference, and from Shelby Association they all went 
together to the General Conference, at which a mu- 
tual union was formed, on the basis of the above res- 
olution, and I doubt not, that had it not been for two 
things that that union would have remained unbrok- 
en to-day ; but unfortunately, a committee was ap- 
pointed, during General Conference, to draft resolu- 
tions setting forth the sentiments of that body on the 
state of the country, at this time, which was only a 
few years after the civil war. Some of their very 
best men used their influence to suppress them and 
supposed that the committee appointed for this pur^ 
pose would not be called upon to make a report. 
However, near the close of the Conference, when 
many that opposed those bitter partisan resolutions 
were gone home, the committee was called upon to 
report. These resolutions were of such a character 

that Elder Stinson, and many others, who believed, 
as the great majority of Free-Will Baptists did, on 



270 EARLY HISTORY 

political questions, "looked upon these resolutions 
as a political platform to govern the Free-Will Bap- 
tist denomination." Therefore, in a spirited letter to 
"The Christian Freeman," a paper published at 
Chicago, Illinois, in the interest of the Free-Will Bap- 
tists and which Liberty Association had recommend- 
ed to her churches, Eider Stinson entered a protest 
against Liberty Association belonging to a body that 
would pass resolutions placing such political strict- 
ures upon any people. 

Answers to this letter were written by Revs. Chase, 
W. E. Whipple and Ransom Dunn, also one by 
Elder A. H. Polk. This matter became so heated 
that the second article of Elder Stinson was not pub- 
lished, and the controversy suppressed. However, 
another thing occurred, which if possible, caused the 
breach to widen. 

Rev. J. S. Manning of the " Ohio and Pennsyl- 
vania Yearly Meeting, who was a delegate to'the 
Convention held with Liberty Association, in 1868, 
was then, or shortly after, stationed at Cairo, Illinois, 
laboring among the colored people, under the aus- 
pices of the Free-Will Baptist Missionary Board. 
This over zealous man, together with Rev. O. D. 
Patch, of the Free-Will Baptists, began to visit our 
Annual Associations in Illinois, trying to persuade 
our people to drop the name General Baptist and 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 271 

adopt the name Free-Will, and finally not finding 
any of our Associations willing to bring forward any 
such a resolution, Elder Manning offerered one him- 
self, which was declared by the Moderator of Mt. 
Olivet Association, Elder John Onyet, to be unchris- 
tian, and out of order. 

We must here state, that the General Conference 
of Free- Will Baptists, as a body, did not approve of 
the conduct of Elder Manning in this matter and he 
was finally warmly rebuked by some of the Free- 
will Baptists for his indecorous and disastrous work, 
in defference to General Baptists. 

Nearly all the General Baptist Associations east of 
the Mississippi river, had gone into this union, but all 
except Liberty, withdrew immediately after they un- 
derstood the motive of the resolutions above report- 
ed. This matter continued to confuse and harass 
our people for many years, until finally, in 1877, the 
Association, while in session with Behlehem, three 
miles east of Owensville, resolved to withdraw her 
connection from the Free-Will Baptist General Con- 
ference. Notwithstanding, Liberty Association, on 
account of the things mentioned heretofore, passed 
through many turbulant and boisterous meetings, 
yet this work was not all in vain. It has brought 
about a better acquaintance of liberal Baptists gen- 
erally, and there are strong ties of personal relation- 



272 EARLY HISTORY 

ship existing between many of the Free- Will Baptists, 
who have visited us, and the whole General Baptist de- 
nomination. Through those visits the General Bap- 
tists have caught a spirit of enterprise and a conse- 
cration of their means that otherwise would have 
taken many years for them to have reached, and a 
possibility of a closer union is not yet forever de- 
stroyed. 

The forty-sixth meeting was held with Mt. Olive 
Church, Posey county, in 1869, and numbered 1786 
members. One new church, Mt. Pisgah, was re- 
ceived. 

This is the highest number ever reached by this 
body. So far there has been a continual drain from 
it in forming new Associations. 

The forty-seventh meeting was held with Mt. 
Pleasant Church, in Posey county, in 1870. Beth- 
sada and Springfield Churches, in Posey county, were 
received, and 1433 members were reported. 

At this meeting Liberty Association was called up- 
on to record the death of three of her old and tried 
ministers and fathers in the gospel. In reference to 
them, we find the following: 

" Whereas, Revs. Benoni Stinson, Alvah Parker 
and James Blackburn, since our last Association, 
have died, therefore, 

" Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the 
bereaved families, and further. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 273 

''Resolved, That their funerals be preached on 
Sabbath, in the following order:" 

Rev. Jacob Speer, preach that of Elder Benoni 
Stinson; Elder J. G. Ensle, that of Elder Parker, 
and Elder J. G. Lane, that of Elder Blackburn. 

The forty-eighth meeting was held with Owensville 
Church, Gibson county, in 1871, and numbered 1448 
members. 

At this meeting Elder Joseph Peryman, from Shel- 
by Association, and Elder J. W. Vahn, of Ambraw 
Association of Separate Baptists, presented letters of 
correspondence, with a view of effecting a union with 
us, which was accomplished, allowing them their own 
choice of name, (General or Separate Baptists.) 

At this meeting the following resolution, in refer- 
ence to the "Baptist Union," a paper edited by 
Rev. Dr. G. H. Ball, of Buffalo, New York : 

" That we cordially approve the course of the Bap- 
tist Union and we hail with gratitude, to God, the 
good fruits of its labors in gathering into one, the 
scattered members of the great body of liberal Bap- 
tists in the United States." 

The merging into or consolidating this paper with 
the Morning Star, was greatly lamented by General 
Baptists everywhere. However, it sowed seed that 
will eventually bring forth an abundant crop. 

The forty-ninth meeting was held with Columhia 



274 EARLY HISTORY 

Church, -in Posey county, in 1872, and numbered 
1662 members. Welborn Chapel Church, in Posey 
county, was received. 

At this meeting a correspondence was commenced 
with Cumberland Association of Free-Will Baptists, 
in Tennessee, and the General Baptists, in Missouri. 

The fiftieth meeting was held with Fort Branch 
Church, Gibson county, in 1873, numbering 1670 
members. Mt. Vernon Church, in Mt. Vernon, Po- 
sey county, was received. 

At this meeting we find the following, in reference 
to Home Missions: 

"Whereas, The Home Mission Boird, of Liberty 
Association, (as appointed by the Central Home Mis- 
sion Board of the General Association) consisting of 
Elders D. B. Montgomery, F. M. Kerr and Bro. R. 
B. Richards, have been laboring since December 
10th, 1872, to build up a permanent Home Mission 
fund and have, by the aid of the brethren, generally, 
throughout the Association, succeeded in securing 
subscriptions to the amount of three thousand dol- 
lars upon which ten per cent, interest is due, as soon 
as Liberty Association shall have taken said fund 
under her control. Therefore, be it 

"Resolved, That Liberty Association of General 
Baptists, located in the States of Indiana and Illinois, 
receive said subscriptions and donations and incor- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 275 

porate and control the same, according to the consti- 
tution under which said subscriptions and donations 
have been obtained." See constitution. 

It will be remembered that our people have en- 
couraged the missionary work all through our history. 
Some years they were successful and would plant sev- 
eral new churches. Probably the next year, for the 
want of means, we would lose what we had done the 
year previous. Brother R.* B. Richards, who had 
worked with the Missionary Board for several years, 
was convinced that the plan of making each year 
provide for itself, was not the right one, so he, being 
a member of this board, insisted on building up a 
permanent fund, and at the first meeting of the Board, 
December 10th, 1872, at his house, he proposed to 
be one of twenty men to give $100 each, for a per- 
manent fund. D. B. Montgomery, a member of the 
Board and J. S. Mead, who was in the council with 
us, agreed to the proposition. Thus $300 was secur- 
ed at the first meeting of the Board and $3,000 be- 
fore September 1873. Since then several voluntary 
contributions have been made. The Board is in a 
healthy condition at present and consists of Elders 
Wm. Clark, President; Elder D. B. Montgomery, 
Secretary, and Brother J. P. McClure, Treasurer, 
and the following brethren are members of the Board: 



276 EARLY HISTORY 

J. S. Mead, Charles Mead., Charles Epperson, Elder 
Wilson Blackburn, G. B. Young, H. C. Daugherty, 
R. B. Richards, Julius Spore, James Brown, and 
John Hollis. Bros. Newton Skelton and Henry Clark, 
were members at their death, which occurred in the 
winter of 1880. 

The fifty-first meeting was held with Bethlehem 
Church, Posey county, in 1874, and numbered 1714 
members. Oak Grove Church, in White county, 
Illinois, and New Liberty, in Gibson county, were 
received. 

Elder D. M. Shoemacker, and brethren J. B. 
Blythe., Samuel Boren and Samuel Carter, presented 
a letter of correspondence from the Union Christian 
Conference, which was gladly received, and the cor- 
respondence has been kept up ever since. 

The fifty-second meeting was held with Oakland 
City Church, in 1875, and numbered 1679 members. 

The fifty-third meeting was held with Mt. Olive 
Church, in Posey county, in 1876. Mt. Zion Church, 
in Posey county, was received. 

We find the following, in reference to the death of 
Elder J. G. Ensle : 

" Resolved, That in the death of Elder J. G. Ens- 
lee, we have lost an efficient pastor, a truly devoted 
christian, a man true to his convictions, and bold to 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 277 

declare the gospel of Christ, and as a tribute of re- 
gard for his labors, we appoint Elder Wilson Black- 
burn to preach his funeral at the stand, on Sabbath, 
at ten o'clock, A. M. 



ETDER JAMES G. ENSLE. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Vander- 
burgh county, Indiana, April 9th, 1830, and licensed 
to preach the gospel of Christ, by the Baptist church of 
Helena, Ark. and, I believe, was educated at a Mis- 
sionary Baptist School in Arkansas, and afterwards 
moved back to Vanderburgh county, Indiana, where 
he united with the General Baptists and was ordained 
at old Mt. Pleasant Church in Posey county, Indi- 
ana, by the Presbytery of Liberty Association, con 
sisting of Elders Benoni Stinson, A. H. Polk and 
T. M. Strain. At this time it was remarked by one 
of the shrewdest men in the General Baptist denom- 
ination, that this is the man the General Baptists have 
prayed for. He was not only promising then, but 
made an excellent preacher, sometimes becoming 
quite eloquent. He was acknowledged to be one of 
the best sermonizers in Liberty Association. He was 

a close student, very systematic, and logical. In 
the midst of his usefulness the question of a union 



278 EARLY HISTORY 

between the General and Free-Will Baptists was agi- 
tated among us. He opposed the union, because he 
believed the Free-Will Baptist General Conference 
dabbled too much in politics. In the heated discus- 
sions which followed, he became somewhat estranged 
from apart of the Association, which, to a very con- 
siderable extent, limited his labors to the Southern 
part of the Association. He was modest and rather 
diffident, but true as steel to his convictions, and 
when once he took a decided stand on a question, 
he was not easily persuaded to a compromise. He 
knew nothing underhanded or undermining in work- 
ing to carry a point. 

He first settled questions as to right or wrong, in 
his own mind, and when satisfied that he was in the 
right he would contend for it in opposition to friend 
or foe. On first acquaintance he was rather distant, 
but when you became acquainted with him, you loved 
him. 

He was a good writer and was senior editor of the 
General Baptist Herald, at one time, for about six 
months. But alas, when only about forty-six years 
old, he died, on February 20th, 1876. Of course, it 
was his gain, but the General Baptists sustained a 
great loss. 

Zion Church house, as well as the membership at 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 279 

that place, were chiefly built up by his labors. He 
prepared most of the heavy timbers of the house 
with his own hands, besides rendering much financial 
aid. He had the full confidence of all his communi- 
ty. He was, generally, the arbitrator of all difficul- 
ties arising between parties near him. May his man- 
tel fall upon some of our young men, 

The fifty-fourth meeting was held with Bethlehem 
Church, in Gibson county, in 1877, and numbered 
1357 members. 

The following resolution was passed at this meeting : 

' 'Resolved, That a Board of three members be 
appointed to raise funds for our superanuated minis- 
ters, w r ith power to mature a plan, and organize, un- 
der the law, to collect funds, appoint agents, and re- 
port at our next meeting." 

Elders D. B. Montgomery, Wilson Blackburn and 
Wm. Tennison, were appointed, and J. B. Cox re- 
quested to assist them. 

Elder Wilson Blackburn was appointed to preach 
a funeral discourse to the memory of R. B. Burlison, 
who had died since 1875. 

The fifty-fifth meeting was held with Mt. Pleasant 
Church, in Posey county, in 1878, and numbered 
1408 members. 

The committee appointed on the superanuated 



280 EARLY HISTORY 

fund, in 1877, reported a constitution, (see constitu- 
tion) and the Association appointed a Board of Man- 
agers, consisting of Elders Wilson Blackburn, breth- 
ren John Wilson, G. B. Young, Wm. Fairchild, H. 
C. Daugherty and W. C. Allyn. 

The fifty-sixth meeting was held with Columbia 
Church, Gibson county, in 1879, and numbered 1483 
members. 

Elder Jacob Speer was advised by the Association 
to retire from the active duties of a pastor and visit 
the different churches when health and weather 
would admit, and also advised the churches to remu- 
nerate him for his services when he visited them. 
Elder Speer has been the faithful pastor of various 
churches for over fifty years, and was never known to 
miss an appointment when it was in his power to 
meet it. 

The fifty-seventh meeting was held with Ovvens- 
ville Church, Gibson county, and numbered 1333 
members. 

At this meeting the Mission Board made an en- 
couraging report. 

The Association endorsed the Golden Rule, edited 
by Elder J. E. Cox, and published at Mt. Vernon, 
Indiana, and entered heartily into the work of en- 
dowing the College at Evansville, and her members 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 281 

have subscribed several thousand dollars to endow 
this much needed and deserved institution. 

Liberty Association, in all her history, has never 
had a more promising corps of young ministers than 
she has at present, to-wit : Elders J. E. Cox, H. C. 
Cockrum, Josephus Latham, Felix Polk and Francis 
Wood. These have all been licenced within the last 
three years. 

This ends the history of this Association for fifty- 
seven years. 



18 



282 



EARLY HISTORY 






M o^g g 

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IN THE UNITED STATES. 285 

Below we give the names and Post Office address 
of ministers. 

NAMES AND POST OFFICE ADDRESS OF MINISTERS. 

Jacob Speer, Wm. Clark and D. B. Montgomery, 
Owensville, Indiana. 

A. H. Polk and Felix Polk, Princeton, Indiana. 

T. M. Strain, H. C. Clinton and Francis Wood, 
Ft. Branch, Indiana. 

H. C. Cockrum, Oakland City, Indiana. 

Wm. Sturgeon, Cynthiana, Indiana. 

G. W. Moore, Evansville, Indiana. 

Wilson Blackburn, W. J. Blackburn, Wm. Tenni- 
son, A. Burlison and J. A. Baily, Mt. Vernon, In- 
diana. 

Josephus Latham, Francisco, Indiana. 



UNION ASSOCIATION, KENTUCKY. 

In 1840, Liberty Association, while in session with 
Enon Church, had twenty churches represented and 
890 members. This was a fine showing for our peo- 
ple who for a few years before this had been well 
nigh swallowed up by the surrounding opposition. 



286 EARLY HISTORY 

The meeting of this Association was a large and an 
enthusiastic one. The great feature of this meeting, 
as regards its business transactions, was the matter of 
dividing Liberty Association into two bodies. 

I have already stated that the General Baptist min- 
isters had unfurled the banner of the Cross on the 
soil of Kentucky and Illinois. Elder Stinson having 
been kept in the field as a missionary, a good part of 
the time, had succeeded in extending the borders of 
the denomination, not only in Indiana, but in other 
adjoining States. Therefore : 

" According to an appointment of the Liberty As- 
sociation of General Baptists, a committee, consist- 
ing of Elders Benoni Stinson, John B. Stinson and 
Jacob Speer, convened at Caldwell Church, in Cald- 
well county, Kentucky, in October, 1840, and con- 
stituted Union Association of General Baptists, com- 
posed of the following churches and messengers : 

Liberty, Harbin Baldwin and John T. Watson, 
with fifty-three members. 

Chalybeate, Jacob Holeman, Wiley Jenkens, Squire 
Holeman and Philip Massey, with thirty-four mem- 
bers. 

Caldwell, John Crider, John Holeman, Jesse 
Nichols, James S. Jones and Wm. Dremnon, with 
thirty-three members. 

Union, James M. Hunt, with four members. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 287 

Grassy Lick, with twenty-two members. 

Liberty, of Caldwell county, with eight members. 

Sharon, with nine members. 

Total membership, one hundred and sixty-three. 

After the organization was completed, Elder Be- 
noni Stinson delivered a discourse from 1st Tim., 4th 
chapter, 9th and 10th verses. 

Elder Jacob Holeman, (father of Dr. Jeff. Hole- 
man) was the first Moderator of this Association and 

Jesse Nichols, Clerk. 

This body agreed to hold four quarterly meetings 

during the year, and adopted the Constitution, By- 
Laws and Articles of Faith of the Liberty Associa- 
tion of General Baptists. 

This circumstance marked a new era in the history 

of the Liberal Baptist movement and had a telling in- 
fluence on the success of the cause. It was a mat- 
ter of much joy to our friends generally, and none 
seemed to enjoy it like Elder Benoni Stinson. He 
had been, under God's providence, not only foremost, 
but the very founder of this movement in the West. 
He regarded this success with feelings of great sat- ' 
isfaction, and gave most of the credit to the breth- 
ren and elders, who had been co-workers with him. 
Above all he was always in the habit of giving God 
the glory for all the success by which the cause so 
dear to him was made to prosper. I never knew a 



288 EARLY HISTORY 

man who was more humble under great spiritual pros- 
perity, and he always seemed to esteem the humblest 
of his brethren better than himself. 

This new Association, planted on the soil of Ken- 
tucky, near where he had spent his youthful days, 
was very gratifying, not only to Elder Stinson and 
his brethren in the liberal movement, but it was hail- 
ed by the liberal people of other denominations, as 
well. A deep interest was manifested by the breth- 
ren in Kentucky. The ministers there were zealous 
and effective workers. It is true that they suffered 
persecution there, from merciless attacks made upon 
them by the old school Baptists, as were the breth- 
ren in Indiana, when Liberty Association was first 
formed. I say here, once for all, that I do not attrib- 
ute any bad motive to those stern old brethren of 
predestinarian sentiments for doing as they did, for 
like Paul, on a certain occasion, they doubtless thought 
they were doing God's service, and like him, they 
may have lived in all good conscience before God, 
up to the day of their death. It is but human to err. 
We should not, therefore, judge brethren with harsh 
judgement. The name of this new Association was 
Union, and that body of people deserve the name. 

A nucleus was now formed in Kentucky, around 
which liberal Baptists could cluster, and this was an- 
other step in advance as the sequel will show. Among 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 289 

the old ministers of this Association, I remember 
well the names of George W. McAndrews, E. Han- 
cock, Jacob Holeman, E. C. McCoy and W. W. 
Jenkens. I believe those good men have all died 
many years ago but they left behind them a glori- 
ous record. 

I was not very well acquainted with Elders McCoy 
and Jenkens. They had the reputation of being 
very zealous and effective workers in the cause of 
Christ, but with Elders McAndrew, Hancock and 
Holeman, I was well acquainted, and of them I 
will here speak a few words in detail. 



ELDER GEORGE W. MCANDREW. 

Elder McAndrew was a man above mediocrity, as 
to intellect. He possessed a good English education 
and was a man of close application and some cul- 
ture. He was an earnest and eloquent preacher and 
was very popular. His sermons disclosed not only 
much breadth of thought, but they were full of pathos 
and directness. He labored both in Indiana and 
Kentucky, with success, having the entire confidence 
of the brethren wherever he went. His social qual- 
ities were of a high order and his company was 
sougnt for by christians of all denominations. His 



290 EARLY HISTORY 

affections were so strong that when he met the breth- 
ren atone of the annual meetings or Associations, he 
was filled with joy, and when he parted with them he 
often shed tears. To him the love and unity which 
bound christians together was a living principle. 
He could sing, with all his heart, 

" Blest be the tie that binds 

Our hearts in christian love ; 
The fellowship of kindred minds 

Is like to that above." 

But like some other bright and shining lights, El- 
der Mc Andrew died before he reached what is called 
the meridian of life. He was mourned by a large 
circle of friends both in Kentucky and Indiana, for 
he lived a while in both States. He died, trusting 
in, and calling upon, the name of the Lord. 



ELDER ESMA HANCOCK. 

Elder Hancock was a man of but little education, 
but he was possessed of an excellent memory and 
good common sense, and when he began to preach 
he applied himself closely to the study of theology 
so that he acquired information very rapidly and by 
that dilligence and perseverance which always tell on 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 291 

a good man in a good cause, he advanced to the 
front rank among the ministers of our denomination, 
and so zealous was he to propogate the doctrines of 
our church that his voice was heard on the Trade 
Water and on the Cumberland river, and in many 
other portions of Kentucky, where he wielded much 
influence for good. ' He was stricken down in the 
midst of his usefulness, but the time, place and cir- 
cumstances of his death are unknown tome. 



ELDER JACOB HOLEMAN. 

Elder Holeman was a man of fine ability as a 
preacher and possessed great power in exhortation. 
He, too, was a very social and loving man, and was 
very useful to the church. His education was very 
limited, having been an old backwoodsman on the 
"dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky, but he 
had talents which eminently fitted him to win souls 
to Christ, and it was his meat and drink to do his 
Master's will. The good influences set to work by 
him are still going on and his memory is still cher- 
ished by all who knew him. He died at a good old 
age, full of honors, with bright hopes of a blissful 
immortality. He was the father of Elder Miles 
Holeman, of Clayville, Kentucky, who was a Unit- 



292 EARLY HISTORY 

ed Baptist minister and very useful, but died quite 
young. Dr. Jeff. Holeman, now of Evansville, In- 
diana, is a son of his, also. It was with such 
men as these that the doctrines of a general atone- 
ment and open communion were defended in Ken- 
tucky. Men of any less integrity, fortitude and per- 
severance would have yielded to the opposition with 
which they had to contend. 

The second meeting was held with Chalybeate 
Church, commencing on the 8th of October, 1841. 
Members 258, a gain of 95. 

The third meeting was held with Liberty Church, 
Caldwell county, Kentucky, on Friday, before the 
third Sabbath in October, 1842. Six new churches, 
Pleasant Hope, Shady Grove, Zion, Mt. Lebanon, 
Salem and New Hope were received. Members 237, 
a loss of 21. 

G. P. Cavanah was a delegate from Shady Grove 
Church. He was not then a minister. 

This Association insisted that a minister must be- 
long to some church, one of which he was pastor, 
and further insisted that churches remunerate their 
pastors for services, which indicates that the church- 
es were a little lax in this particular. 

The fourth meeting was held with Mt. Lebanon 
Church, in Henderson county, Kentucky, in Octo- 
ber, 1843. Three new churches, Mt. Enon, Mt. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 293 

Zion and Friendship, were received. Members 311, 
a gain of 74. 

We find the following in reference to membership 
in the church : 

" Resolved, That fellowship and Baptism are both 
necessary to church membership." 

They also refused to advise the Presbytery to 
licence promising gifts unless they come recommend- 
ed from the church to which they belonged. 

The fifth meeting was held with Pleasant Hope 
church, Davis county, Kentucky, in October, 1844. 
Three new churches, Free Communion, Freedom and 
Mt. Gilead, were received. Members 406, a gain 
of 175. 

Elder Jacob Holeman was appointed missionary, 
to labor in the bounds of this Association, until the 
next meeting. 

This Association agreed to the proposition of Lib- 
erty Association to hold a General Association every 
two years. If this general gathering could have been 
sustained our numbers would have been much larger 
to day than they are. 

The sixth meeting was held with Free Communion 

Church, Crittenden county, in October, 1844. One 
new church, Pleasant Grove, was received. Mem- 
bers 395, a loss of 11. 

The seventh meeting was held with Pleasant Grove 



294 EARLY HISTORY 

Church, Muhlenberg county, Kentucky, in 1846. 
Members 362, a loss of 33. Two new churches, 
Ballard and Lewis Creek, were received. 

At this meeting the fifth article of the Confession 

of Faith was made to conform with the fifth article of 
Liberty Association, which had been changed in 1865 
to read: "That he that endureth to the end the same 

shall be saved." 

Also, the eleventh article was amended by adding 

in brackets, (infants and idiots excepted.) 

We concluded that our brethren in Kentucky were 
persecuted for their liberal views as were our fathers 
in Indiana. We hear them at this Association say- 
ing that, "for the comfort and satisfaction of the 
people of God, we consider it necessary to give the 
number of General Baptists in the world." They 
then enumerate Liberty Association, Indiana, 975; 
North Carolina, 845; Eastern States, 30,000; Wales 
19,000; England, 27,000. They included all of 
which they then knew, that held to the doctrines of 

the General Baptists. They further say : 

"We do not boast of numbers, but would rather 
rejoice that we remain identified in bearing testimony 
with those of the same faith and order, who lived at 
the time of, and ever since the days of the Apostles." 
The eighth meeting was held with Zion Church, 
Muhlenberg county, Kentucky, in August, 1847. 
Members 164. 



iN THE UNITED STATES. 295 

We must bear in mind that at the seventh meeting 
this Union Association was divided, by mutual con- 
sent, begining at Henderson and running thence to 
Madisonville, including Mt. Lebanon Church, 
thence to Princeton, Kentucky. All on the west of 
this line was constituted into Cumberland Associa- 
tion of General Baptists, This will account for the 
decrease in membership. 

We now find this Associating starting out to battle 
for General Baptist principles, with just one member 
more than she had at her organization, seven years 
previous. 

The ninth meeting was held with Salem Church, 
Muhlenberg county, Kentucky, in August, 1848. 
Members 228, a gain of 54. One new Church, G. 
R. Union, was received. 

At this meeting Liberty and Cumberland Associ- 
ation were invited to act in concert with Union Asso- 
ciation, in preparing a circular letter on the subject of 
free communion, and also of condensing the min- 
utes of said three Associations. 

The tenth meeting was held with Mt. Gilead 
Church, in Hopkins county, Kentucky, in August, 
1849. Members 267, a gain of 39. 

We find the following in reference to ministers tak- 
ing a letter from the church to which they belong : 

"Resolved, That in the opinion of this Associa- 



296 EARLY HISTORY 

tion that any minister drawing a letter of dismission 
from our watch care should not be permitted 
to preach or administer any of the ordinances, until 
his credentials be renewed by our Presbytery." 

This is certainly a good resolution and ought to be 
strictly adhered to. This, doubtles, was done in or- 
der to keep some men from bringing reproach upon 
the principles for which they were contending. Any 
man who withdraws from the fellowship of any 
church ought not to carry credentials from said 
church. 

At this meeting the churches were advised to liber- 
ate promising young gifts who wished to exercise their 
gifts in exhortation or preaching, for a limited time, 
or until some future meeting of the Associational 
Presbytery, where they could be fully examined con- 
cerning their ministerial gifts. 

The eleventh meeting was held with Liberty 
Church, in Henderson county, August, 1850. Mem- 
bers 310, again of 43. 

Soon after the organization of this Association, it 
held quarterly meetings. Soon after, it discontinued 
them and adopted semi-annual meetings. 

At this, the eleventh meeting, it was divided into 
three districts, but still remained in the same annual 
Association. 

The twelfth meeting was held with Pleasant Hope 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 297 

Church, Daviess county, Kentucky, August 1851. 
American Union Church was received. Members 
373, a gain of 63. 

At this meeting a Missionary Society was formed 
under the name of "The Home Mission of the Ken- 
tucky Union Association of General Baptists." 

The Association at this session took a firm stand in 
opposition to intemperance. 

The 13th meeting was held with Green River 
Union Church, (this is the same church that has been 
refered to under the name of G. R. Union) in No- 
vember, 1852. Sharon Church was received. Mem- 
bers 272, a loss of 101. 

It appears that this Association had been infested 
with some imposters under the guise of the ministry, 
as they resolved not to invite strange preachers into 
their pulpits unless they come well recommended 

from the church to which they belonged. 

They also placed themselves on record as being 
open or free communion, or, in other words, they 
were willing to receive to the Lord's Supper all that 
Christ received. 

The fourteenth meeting was held with Free Union 
Church, McLean county, Kentucky, October, 1853. 
Members 301, a gain of 29. 

The fifteenth meeting was held with Sharon 

Church, Henderson county, Kentucky, October, 
19 



298 EARLY HISTORY 

1854, but we have not seen any minute of this meet- 
ing. 

The sixteenth meeting was held October, 1855. 
Members 252. 

At this meeting it was earnestly urged upon the 
various churches to secure the regular services of 
some pastor and to liberally remunerate them for 
their labors. 

The seventeenth meeting was held with Pleasant 
Hope Church, McLean county, Kentucky, October, 

1855. We have not the statistics or proceedings of 
this meeting. 

The eighteeth meeting was held with Liberty 
Church, in Henderson county, Kentucky, October, 
1857. Members 280. 

Elder W. W. Lock, J. D. Gregory and John Onyet 
appeared with a letter of correspondence from the 
Ohio Association of General Baptists in Illinois and 
Kentucky. The Ohio Association also sent dele- 
gates to Liberty Association this year. 

This is the first mention we hear of this Associa- 
tion, but it appears from her minutes that she was 
organized in 1855, or two years previous to this date, 
and fifteen years after Union Association, and nine 
years after the organization of Cumberland Associa- 
tion. We will give the history of Ohio Association 
in its proper place. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 299 

The nineteenth meeting was held with Mt. Gilead 
Church, Hopkins county, Kentucky, October, 1858. 
Green River and Paradise Churches were received. 
Members 304. 

This meeting appointed delegates to meet in con- 
vention with the other Associations at Corydon, Ken- 
tucky, in order to draw up a constitution for a Gen- 
eral Association. 

It appears that the Associations were so scattered 
and weak that the General Association did not prove 
a success. 

The twentieth meeting was held with Green River 
Church, Muhlenberg county, Kentucky, in October, 
1869. This minute is, also, missing. 

The twenty-first session was held with Mr. Leba- 
non Church, Webster county, Kentucky, in October, 
1860. Shady Grove Church, Webster county Ken- 
tucky, received. Total members 324, a gain in two 
years, of 20. 

This Association received a correspondent from 
United Association of General Baptists in Indiana. 
It also opened a correspondence with the Cumber- 
land Association of Free-Will Baptists, in Tennessee. 
Also with the Mt. Moria Association of Free-Will 
Baptists in Alabama. 

The twenty-second meeting was held with Pleas- 
ant Hope Church, in 1851. Representatives only 



300 EARLY HISTORY 

from Green River Union, American Union and Pleas- 
ant Hope Churches, were in attendance. 

They adjourned until October, 1862, to meet with 
Pleasant Hope Church, McLean county, Kentucky, 
and had no minutes printed. 

The twenty-third session met with Pleasant Hope 
Church, in October, 1862. 

Representatives from American Union, Elder Lud 
Brackett; Green River Union, Elder Jacob H. Igle- 
heart; Pleasant Hope, Ben. Johnson and George L. 

Davis. 

The Association organized and adjourned, but did 

not have any minutes printed this year. 

" There was no public attendance at either of the 
Associations in 1861 and 1862, on account of the 
war troubles in this part of Kentucky. 

Geo. L. Davis. 

The twenty-fourth meeting was held with Mt. Leb-. 
anon Church, Webster county Kentucky, in Octo- 
ber, 1863. Five churches were represented: Mt. 
Lebanon, Mt. Gilead, Pleasant Hope, Free Union 
and Shady Grove. Total membership 145. 

At this meeting new life began to spring up. Quite 
an extended correspondence was received, and again 
we see this devoted people, who have labored under 
many difficulties, start almost anew on their mission 
of labor and love. I believe their number is less this 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 301 

year than at any time in their history, excepting 
1861-62, when no statistics were given. 

The twenty-fifth meeting was held with Shady 
Grove Church, Webster county, Kentucky, in Octo- 
ber, 1864. Members 307, a gain of 162. 

At this session we see this Association full of en- 
ergy and zeal, renewed most of their former corres- 
pondence and organized an Associational Presbytery 
to examine any candidate for the ministry that should 
be sent up from the churches with a recommendation 
for licencing or ordination. Elders I. H. Henry and 
R. Head were appointed to write an essay on the qual- 
ifications and duties of Deacons. 

In their letter of correspondence, we find this ex- 
pression : 

' ' We would gladly say that the Lord has revived 
his work in some of our churches. Our prospects 
for the future are growing brighter" 

We here insert a short biographical sketch of El- 
der I. H. Henry, who figured very conspicuously 
among the people many years after this. 



302 EARLY HISTORY 



ELDER ISAAC H. HENRY. 

Among the able and most useful ministers of the 
General Baptist denomination in Kentucky, so far 
as my knowledge extends, Elder Isaac H. Henry is, 
perhaps, the most prominent of any now living. He 
was born in Hopkins county, Kentucky, October 22, 
1828, and professed faith in Christ in his thirteenth, 
and united with the church in his fifteenth year, thus 
learning to love and obey his Saviour in childhood. 
In love and favor with his neighbors, he established 
for himself a character which won for him the esteem 
of all who -knew him and gave promise of future use- 
fulness. He never obtained much education, but 
his great desire to inform himself, to the end that he 
might be useful in the cause of the Master, prompted 
him to read and study very much, and while many 
other young men were giving themselves up to pleas- 
ure, going to places of amusement, he was poring 
over his books and studying the Scriptures. Although 
his talent for preaching began to develope itself at 
an early age, he was diffident, and being of a modest 
and retiring disposition, he did not enter into the full 
work of the ministry until the 6th day of November, 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 303 

1859, when he was ordained by Elders John Onyet, 
L. C. Onyet, C. Mason, Win. Milligan, John D. 
Gregory and A. A. Stoval. Not being fully satisfied 
with his attainments he went to Owensville, Indiana, 
in the spring of 1860, and studied under Elder Geo. 
P. Cavanah, for four months, during which time he 
also attended the Owensville Academy, which was 
managed by Professor Jacob F. Bird, who was a very 
efficient teacher. During his stay, and studies here, 
he made such advancement in both theology and the 
sciences, that he went home, to Kentucky, and en- 
tered upon his work in the gospel field, with renewed 
energy ancl was very successful in the cause which 

has always been dear to him. 

Elder Henry has preached extensively in Ken- 
tucky and often visits Illinois and Indiana. He is 
very much wedded to his high calling and his services 
are frequently required as pastor, so that when well, 
he puts in his time in preaching, some place, nearly 
every Sabbath. Bro. Henry does not aspire to be a 
great man, but he is a plain, matter-of-fact man, and 
wishes, above all things, to be useful rather than 
showy. His words are few and well chosen. He 
has a natural dignity which appears to fit him quite 
well. He is very social among his friends and is 
not only a good disciplinarian but he makes an excel- 
lent presiding officer. His manner, in the pulpit, is 



304 EARLY HISTORY 

plain and frank and his sermons are delivered with 
much force and earnestness and his logic is very 
good. His character has always been good and no 
charge has ever been preferred against him in the 
church. 

Elder Henry is distinguished for his devotion to the 
cause of temperance and urges his views in this be- 
half with much success, being himself temperate in 
all things. 

He is also much devoted to the Liberal Baptist 
cause. It has long been his ardent desire to see all 
other Liberal and the General Baptists brought into 
nearer relation with each other, and some plan adopt- 
ed by which a co-operation could be inaugurated by 
the General Association, or a General Convention, 
which would, in some way in the not very distant fu- 
ture result in a consolidation of all the free commun- 
ion and free salvation Baptists in the United States 
into one body. 

In conclusion, I will say, that he is a good writer, 
as his correspondence, in the columns of the General 
Baptist Herald, will attest. I could say much more 
of his abundant labors in the Master's cause, but I 
have filled the space allotted for this sketch." 

The above was written in 1878. Elder Henry has 
been in very poor health nearly ever since, but we 
are glad to learn that he is now somewhat improved 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 305 

and preaching to the churches in different parts of 
Kentucky. 



The twenty-sixth meeting was held with Green 
River Union Church, in Ohio county, Kentucky, in 
October, 1865. Chalybeate Springs received. Mem- 
bers 311, a gain of four. 

"At this meeting Elder A. Pearce preached to a 

large congregation. The Lord's Supper was admin- 
istered. All christians or lovers of Christ were in- 
vited, who were in good standing in their churches. 
"But let a man examine himself and so let him eat 
of that bread and drink of that cup, for he that 
eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh 
damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 
1st. Cor., 11th chap., 28th and 29th verses." "Who 
art thou that judgest an other man's servant to his 
own master, he standeth or falleth? Rom. 14th 
chap., 4th verse. 

This we find in the minute, which very clearly set 
forth their practice on the communion question. 

Elder I. H. Henry was appointed General Home 

Missionary and ordered to visit every church in the 

Association and report at the next session. 

The twenty-seventh meeting was held with Pleasant 



306 EARLY HISTORY 

Hope Church, McLean county, Kentucky, in Oc- 
tober 1866. Four new churches, Bethlehem, Cop- 
eras Springs Mulberry Hill and Liberty. Members 
584, a gain of 273. 

This was a year of success and encouragement to 
this body. 

Elders Benoni Stinson and A. H. Polk preached 
on Sabbath and Sabbath night. These sermons were 
so highly appreciated that a request was made by this 
Association for these sermons to be published. If 
they were I have never seen them. 

Elder I. H. Henry reported his missionary labors 

and said he had labored in five protracted meetings 
and traveled fifty days, witnessed fifty-one conver- 
sions, baptised thirty-three, received $134 85 and 

pledges for $168. 

The twenty-eighth session was held with Mt. Leb- 
anon Church, Webster county, Kentucky, October, 
1867. Mt. Pleasant and Pleasant Grove churches 
received. Members 612, a gain of 28. 

Elder I. H. Henry was Missionary this year and 
worked 186 days, received $370. 

We find that at this meeting some overtures were 
made in order to unite this Association with the Lit- 
tle Bethel Association of United Baptists, We pre- 
sume the desired union was not effected. 

The twenty-ninth meeting was held with Liberty 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 307 

Church, Warren county, Kentucky, in October, 
1868. New Harmony Church received* Members 
982, a gain of 70. 

At this meeting the Missionary Board was 
divided into two divisions. The one north of Green 
Ri/er consisted of Bros. Ben. Dexter, Charles Mor- 
gan and J. R. Dexter. The Board south of Green 
River consisted of Bros. W. A. Marks, Patrick Hall 
and H. H. Wise. 

It seems that this plan did not prove successful as 
only the Board north of the river reported. These 
two Boards were relieved and a new Board appointed, 
consisting of Elder R. M. Smith and Bros. E. C. 

Atherton and G. L. Davis. 

Elders I. H. Henry, R. M. Smith and Bro. G. L. 
Davis were appointed to correspond with the Free- 
will Baptists of the East, in reference to a union be- 
tween the two bodies. 

The history of Liberty Association, in Indiana ex- 
plains this whole matter, therefore we will not speak 
further of this union in connection with the other 
Association except when we come to the Associations 
in Southern Illinois. 

The thirtieth meeting was held with New Harmony 

Church, Todd county, Kentucky, in October, 1869. 

Green's Chapel, New Hope, Hopewell and Indian 
»Camp Union churches received. Members 933, a 
gain of 251. 



308 EARLY HISTORY 

It appears that the Cumberland Association of Gen- 
eral Baptists was, at this time, in rather a weak con- 
dition, as she expressed a wish to become consolidat- 
ed with Union and Union agreed to this provided the 
churches of Cumberland come as other new churches. 
This was not accepted however. 

The thirty-first meeting was held with Mt. Gilead 
Church, Webster county, Kentucky, in October, 
1870. Mud River Union and Macedonia churches 
received. Members 1137, a gain of 294. 

This year the Association reports twenty-one or- 
dained ministers and four licentiate. 

We note the death of Elders L. Bracket, Isma 

Hancock and E. C. Atherton. 

The thirty-second meeting was held with Mt. Union 
Church, Allen county, Kentucky, in October, 1871. 
Received, Little Rock and Sebree churches. Mem- 
bers 1534, a gain of 437. 



ELDER JACOB H. IGLEHEART 

"Departed this life, August 19th, 1871, aged sixty 
four years. He spent the greater part of his life in 
the church and was a faithful minister of the gospel, 
among us for over thirty years. He was a faithful 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 809 

christian, a kind husband, a loving father and a good 
citizen. He died, as he had lived, in the Lord. We 
sympathize with a bereaved church, wife and child- 
ren. Although to mourn when the good are taken 
away, is natural, we mourn not as those who have no 
hope, for he fell with his armor on, and his end was 
peace." 

The thirty-third meeting was held with Shady 
Crove Church, Webster county, Kentucky, in Octo- 
ber, 1872. Received, Corinth, New Friendship, 
Scuffletown, Cedar Grove and Union churches. Mem- 
bers 1590, a gain of 56. 

The thirty-fourth meeting was held with Hopewell 
Church, Ohio county, Kentucky, in October, 1873. 
Received Walker's chapel and Walnut Grove. Mem- 
bers 1636, a gain of 45. 

Elders I. H. Henry, J. N. Joiner, M. Z. Holland, 

M. B. Covington and Dr. Holmes were appointed a 
soliciting committee to build up a permanent Home 
Mission fund. 

The thirty-fifth meeting was held with Macedonia 
Church, Simpson county, Kentucky, in October, 
1874. Received, Clayville church. Members 1677.' 

The Association advised the churches to have, at 
least, one sermon preached during the following 
year, on the subject of baptism and the support of 
the gospel. 



310 EARLY HISTORY 

The thirty-sixth meeiing was held with Union Hill 
Church, Henderson county, Kentucky, in October, 

1875. Received, Free Union and White Oak 
Springs churches. Members 1155. 

We see a very great loss and conclude that it must 
have been on account of the distance of many of 
the churches from Henderson county, in which the 
Association was this year convened. Therefore, the 
Association was this year divided and the new Asso- 
ciation took the name of Mt. Union, which was 
finally organized in 1876. 

We note the death of Elder J. N. Joiner. 

Union Association, at this time, was in corres- 
pondence with nearly all the General Baptist Associa- 
tions in the United States. 

The thirty-seventh meeting was held with Clay- 
ville Church, Webster county, Kentucky, in Octo- 

1876. Received, West Salem and Star Hope 
churches. Members 1063. 

We find in the minute of this meeting, a constitu- 
tion of a Finance Committee, the true principles of 
which are set forth in the third section of article 2nd. 
Speaking in reference to this committee, it says : 

" They may receive gifts, donations and bequests 
for the use and benefit of the General Baptist de- 
nomination, in any sum or amount, and invest said 
sums in any way they may think best for said de 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 311 

nomination and may use any profits arising from such 
sums, for any missionary or religious enterprise, but 
shall forever hold the principal inviolate." 

If all of our Associations had established some- 
thing of this kind in their first organization all the 
Associations combined could have done a great gen- 
eral Home Mission work, which is greatly needed at 
the present time. 

At this meeting Union Association declared her- 
self in favor of a closer union among all liberal Bap- 
tists and favored a State Association in Kentucky, to 
hasten forward such a union in that State. 

The thirty-eighth meeting was held with Pleasant 
Hope Church, McLean county, Kentucky, in Octo- 
ber, 1877. Received Pleasant View and Oak Grove 
churches. Members 1101, a gain of 38. 

We find all of the enterprises of this Association, 
in this year, in excellent working order, and the 
brethren full of hope and energy. 

The thirty-ninth meeting was held with Star Hope 
Church, Webster county, Kentucky, in October, 
1878. Members 809. 

The fortieth meeting was held with Green's Chap- 
el Church, Muhlenberg county, Kentucky, in Octo- 
ber, 1879. Members 1105. 

The forty-first meeting was held with Copperas 
Springs Church, Webster county Kentucky, in Octo_ 



312 EARLY HISTORY 

ber, 1880. Received Enon Church. Members 1130 
and 14 ministers. 

It is not because we did find these brethren zealous- 
ly engaged at the three or four last meetings, we did 
not say more about them. No, to the contrary, they 
are doing their work well. We did not find any new 
plans introduced in those meetings, because they 
have learned, by long experience, what is best for 
them and the cause of Christ, and this they are doing 
well. When I say that they are flourishing and pros- 
perous, this is saying a great deal, yet it is true. 

We have drawn these short sketches from the min- 
utes of the Union Association, which Bro. Geo. L. 
Davis, of Calhoun, Kentucky, has very kindly fur- 
nished us. I find that Bro. Davis has been clerk of 
this Association for twenty-one years, and has done 
his duty well. 

On the next pages will be found a table which ex- 
hibits the date, place, Moderator, Clerk and mem- 
bers, date of new churches and death of ministers. 
I have avoided, as much as possible, mentioning such 
things as were actually necessary to mention in Lib- 
ty Association and some that must be mentioned in 
connection with General Association. 

The following are the names of the ordained min- 
isters belonging to this Association, in 1881 : 

I. H. Henry, James Cowen, M. Fraser, N. T. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 313 

Duncan, R. Head. H. E. Todd, Joseph Lee, J. H. 
Uttley, H. A. Gregg, M. B. Covington, H. L. Ech- 
ols, A. Pearce, Wm. King, B. Johnson, J. H. Kirt- 
ly, B. Brackett, J. H. Dame, D. Craig, B. T. Igle- 
heart, F. Crabtree and J. N. Carner. 



20 



314 



EARLY HISTORY 





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316 EARLY HISTORY 



CUMBERLAND ASSOCIATION. 

At the seventh meeting of Union Association, as 
has been stated, by mutual consent, was divided and 
begining at Henderson and running to Madisonville, 
then to Princeton, Kentucky. All the General Bap- 
tist churches west of this line were organized into a 
new Association on Friday before the second Sabbath 
in October, 1846. Elders Benoni Stinson, John B. 
Stinson and Jacob Speer assisted in organizing this 
new body. This also took place at the same church 
where Union Association had been organized in 
1840, by the same committee as above mentioned. 

This body appears to have been quite successful at 
first and spread very rapidly, so much so that in a 
few years it had planted several more churches in 
Kentucky, and several in Illinois, so by November, 
1854, six churches in Illinois were organized into 
Ohio Association. 

After this it does not appear to have prospered so 

much and probally was much reduced by the troubles 
incident to the late war, as we're many other General 
Baptist Associations. In 1869 she made overtures to 
Union Association for a consolidation of the two 
bodies. This was not effected. However, some of 
her churches joined the Union Association and some 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 317 

went to the Ohio Association, in Illinois. This left 
Cumberland so weak as to nearly disorganize her 
forces. I am informed that within the last few years 
she has rallied and gone to work in earnest and now 
numbers about five hundred members. 

I have no means of telling what ministers went 
into the organization, nor who their ministers are 
now. I have made repeated efforts to reach some 
correspondent in this body, but have s*o far been un- 
successful. What I have written has been gathered 
from the minutes of Liberty and Union Associations 
and from parties who had known something of these 
people at different times since their Association was 
organized. 



SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ASSOCIATON. 

This branch of the liberal Baptist family had its 
origin in the year 1850, under very peculiar and una- 
voidable circumstances, and was formerly confined 
to, or began in the counties of Randolph, Jackson 
and Perry, in the southern portion of the State, the 
founder of which was the Rev. Henry Smith Gor- 
don, a native of Pennsylvania. He emigrated with 
his fathers family, to Missouri, when but a child and 



318 EARLY HISTORY 

located near St. Louis, where he grew to manhood, 
married and removed to Randolph county, Illinois. 
He was born in the year 1816, and at the age of 
about twenty united with the Missionary Baptist 
Church, at Georgetown, Illinois. 

Shortly after, he was called to the ministry, with 
which church he lived and preached, acting as mis- 
sionary, organizer and pastor, for about ten years, 
during which time he attended ShertlifT College, at 
Alton Illinois, where he received the greater part of 
his education. After his return Irom college he con- 
tinued to preach, and on April 28th, 1850, he organ- 
ized a church at Looney Springs, in Jackson county, 
Illinois, with nine members, as follows: John Mc- 
Laughlin, John Burlison, Mary Henry, Sarah White, 
Sere'na Bradly, Mary White, Nancy Petty, Jane Bur- 
lison and Susan Harrison, all of whom endorsed the 
doctrines of the Baptist church. With but one ex- 
ception, they desired that their christian neighbors 
and friends should enjoy, with them, the privileges of 
the Lord's Supper, which they believed was not un- 
der the control of priest or preacher, and it became 
a subject of much interest and argument among the 
members. Finally the subject was refered to Brother 
Gordon, who informed them that it was contrary to 
the rules of the Baptist church. However, the agi- 
tation was continued with such earnest importuni- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 319 

ties that eventually, in his own words : "I yielded to 
their entreaties and gave my consent, although I had 
never publicly advocated free communion in my 
life," for the justice of their claim was so apparent 
and their cause so scriptural that "I yielded my ac- 
quired denominational prejudices and invited all be- 
lievers to a seat at the Lord's Table," which of- 
fence, in the eyes of close Baptists, was so heritical 
that he was called to account for this departure from 
Baptist usages, for which offence he was excluded 
for — in the language of the moderator — "damnable 
heresy." 

That this history may be complete and set forth all 
the facts connected with the case, I will insert here, 
the trial and exclusion of Rev. H. S. Gordon, from 
the Georgetown Missionary Baptist church, as pre- 
pared and published by the committee who were ap- 
pointed for that purpose : 

We, the committee, appointed by the newly or- 
ganized Free Communion Baptist Church, at George- 
town, Randolph county, Illinois, to prepare and pub- 
lish an account of the trial and exclusion of Rev. H. 
S. Gordon from the old Baptist church of that place, 

make this report : 

At the monthly meeting of the old Baptist Church 

held December 17th, 1850, the Moderator, T. Raw- 
son, inquired if some of their members had not vio- 



320 EARLY HISTORY 

lated Baptist usuages in communing with the Looney 
Springs Church, at its last meeting. Whereupon 
Bro. Gordon made this explanation : 

The Looney Springs Church which I constituted 
last April, is in a prosperous condition, and now num- 
bers between fifty and sixty members. The last meet- 
ing was a sacramental occasion; the membership 
was invited to seats ; visiting members of the same 
faith and order were next invited, whereupon a num- 
ber of the members of Georgetown Church came 
forward. 

Now, said Bro. Cordon, I have extended the invi- 
tation as far as our denomination permits, but does 
this church wish to extend it further? I submit the 
matter to you. All who wish to extend it to all be- 
lievers in Christ, please rise up. The church unani- 
mously rose up. All christians were then invited, 
and several came. After which the church resolved 
to investigate the matter at its next meeting, and 
Revs. Peck, Boykin, Peters, Lemon, Arnett, Phil- 
ips and Hale were invited as a council of ministers, 
to be present at the next monthly meeting, January 
18th, 1851. Peter Hagler, acting as Moderater, the 
subject was taken up for investigation, but instead of 
investigating it the church was formed into a regular 
court to try the said H. S + Gordon and others, for 
being public offenders. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 321 

T. Rawson then proceeded to read several letters 
received; one from D. L. Philips, also some articles 
from the Western watchman ; one written by Peck, 
one by Boykin, and others, in answer to the invita- 
tion sent them by the church. 

The defendent, Gorden, then asked if these let- 
ters were to be received in evidence in the case, and 
he was informed by the moderator they would. 

The defendants then urged that they should be 
tried by the Bible and not by usages ; saying, if our 
conduct has been contrary to the Bible we will ac- 
knowledge and forsake it; but try us by the Bible! the 
Bible ! ! the Bible ! ! ! alone, and not by usage. They 
urged in vain. The Bible was not to be the rule in 

this case. 

Every church has a right to make its own laws, 

said Arnett. 

Bro. Gordon then insisted upon the impropriety of 
making usages the rule of our conduct and mention- 
ed several historical instances as illustrative of what 
usages had been, and often they had been wrong. He 
had not proceeded far before some of the brethren 
became exceedingly restless and began to mutter and 
talk. At length their indignation rose so high that 
they could not restrain their feelings any longer, and 
springing from their seats, brethren, in a tone of per- 
fect rage, cried out, put him out! turn him out! he is 



322 EARLY HISTORY 

not of us ! turn him out ! we are not going to be 
abused in our own house, this way ! put him out ! 
and the defendant was not allowed to proceed fur- 
ther. 

Bro Arnett was then called on to give his opinion 
in the matter. He arose and gave a very sympathet- 
ic exhortation to those who had violated Baptist usa- 
ges, but charged all the sin on Bro. Gordon and ex- 
horted him to be an example to the flock, and to ad- 
here to those customs of the church that had been 
long in use, telling him that Methodists, Presbyteri- 
ans, &c. , would not come if he did invite them ; that 
they were all close communionists, anyhow, and that 
he would lose his reputation if he entertained such 
notions ; that the ministers of the South District As- 
sociation always thought a great deal of him, but 
now they would abandon him, and that his course 
would hurt his brethren's feelings ; that he, himself, 
had always been a good friend of his, and had taken 
him in one cold night and treated him kindly, and 
concluded by urging him to acknowledge his faults. 
To all of which Gordon made a short reply. 

Elder Hale then arose to speak in behalf of those 
charged, but was refused to be heard in their favor. 
He insisted he had a right to speak, for the church 
had invited him there, but the Moderator decided 
against him and the defendant was not allowed any 
counsel whatever. 



IN THE UNI! ED STATES. 323 

After much wrangling, a motion was made to ad- 
journ, but the defendants objected, unless the church 
would agree to meet again. We do not want the 
matter to stop in this manner, said they. 

The Moderator then said: The defendadts have 
made this difficulty. Now if they will just let us 
alone 

At this juncture Bro. Gordon arose and asked the 
congregation who made this difficulty ? and if there 
was a single person in the house who had ever heard 
him preach or teach the doctrine of free communion. 
No one said they had. 

Well if we have never preached or talked about 
it, why does the Moderator ask us to let them alone ? 

Now, said he, I do, for the first time, publicly 
avow it. I do believe all christians should commune 
together. 

He then asked time to give some scriptural rea- 
sons why he believed so. 

Ten minutes was then allowed him, when he stat- 
ed some eight or ten objections to restricted commun- 
ion. 

On motion and second, it was decided that these 
persons had violated Baptist usage, but unanimously 
agreed that the sisters be excused on the score of ig- 
norance, but Bro. Gordon knew better; therefore, he 
should make acknowledgement. 



324 EARLY HISTORY 

He replied that he was not convinced that he had 
done wrong, therefore he could make no acknowl- 
edgments until he was convinced of his error from the 
Bible. 

More than that, no acknowledgments could be sat- 
isfactory to the church, because a very respectable 
majority of it thought he had done right. 

After much confusion, and evidently angry feel- 
ings among the accusers, themselves, they finally 
succeeded in forming the following : 

Resolved, That Rev. H. S. Gordon be excluded 
from the fellowship of this church, but those good 
sisters, who had been exhonerated from all charges, 
on account of ignorance, was not allowed to vote, 
and the resolution was carried by a small majority, 
and H. S. Gordon stood excluded. 

In view of the above facts, the unreasonablness of 
the charge, and the base injustice doneBro. Gordon, 
the greater part of the old church became dissatisfied 
and notice was given that on the following Saturday 
a meeting would be held at the residence of Deacon 
J. P. Short, for the reason that the old church house 
was refused them, to consider the propriety of or- 
ganizing a new church. 

The time came and Rev. R. A. Bradley was 
chosen Moderator and John McLaughlin Clerk. 

The meeting was then addressed by Rev. H. S. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 325 

Gordon, Dr. Job Lawrence, Rev. John Mathews and 
Mr. Lofton, Esq., and resulted in the organization 
of a church with twenty-five members, all former 
members of the old church. 

Bro. Gordon was chosen pastor, and continued to 
serve the church regularly, for about fifteen years. 

During the following summer about twenty-five 

more were added to their number. 

The old church having refused the use of their 
house for our meetings, and treated the committee 
who asked for the same, so contemptuously, that the 
new organization proceeded at once to the erection 
of a new house of worship in sight of the old one, 
and their zeal for the cause of truth and religious and 
Bible liberty, as contrasted with adopted rules and 
usages, was so prompting and inspiring, that in 
three months time the new building, which was both 
neat and commodious, was completed and occupied by 
the young church, which for some years was known 

as the Free Communion Baptist Church. 

Bro. Gordon's ability and his peculiar adaptation 
to the work into which he was so unexpectedly called 
to take up and advocate, and in fact to become the 
leader of a more advanced and liberal view of Christi- 
anity at a time in the history of the Baptist church 
when it was anything but popular, enabled him to 
reach the people with what would seem to be almost 
supernatural power. In his efforts to propogate what 



326 EARLY HISTORY 

he conceived to be the teachings of the Bible his 
church grew rapidly and and surely. 

In the mean time Looney Springs Church grew in 
numerical strength and popularity and R. A. Bradley 
and John McLaughlin were ordained to the ministry. 

About this time Bro. Gordon organized the Pipe- 
stone Church, in Perry county. Also, the Pleasant 
Ridge Church, in the southern part of Randolph 
county. 

There now being four churches holding to the 
same, views on the communion question, it was deem- 
ed expedient to organize an Association. Conse- 
quently, in the following year, October, 1851, there 
was formed the Southern Illinois Association of Free 
Communion Baptists, with the following churches and 
delegates : 

Georgetown Church, Rev. H. S. Gordon, J. T. 
Short and F. Garner. 

Looney Springs, Revs. R. A. and Wm. Bradly, 
and D. Underwood. 

Pleasant Ridge Church, Robert Moore and Joseph 
Robinson. 

Pipestone Church, E. T. Reese and J. A. Brad- 
ley. 

This Association was organized at Georgetown, 
Randolph county, Illinois. 

There were, at this time, only four ministers, Revs. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 327 

H. S. Gordon, R. A. Bradly, Isaac Hale and John 
McLaughlin. The latter died shortly after he was 
called to the ministry. Soon after, however, Wm. 
Bradley was ordained, and from that time to the pres- 
ent, has been one of the most untiring and indefati- 
gable workers and the success of the denomination 
is owing largely to his zeal and earnest persistency* 

For the next three or four years the new churches 
battled hard against the many influences with which 
every reform has to contend. At the same time, not 
knowing that there was any Baptist churches in the 
country holding similar views on the great question 
that had been the cause of our origin, and for a long 
time we were called Free-Willers, by way of "nick 
name," because of the liberal views entertained on 
the communion question, as, also, on the atonement 
as opposed to Calvinism. 

The new churches grew rapidly and the cause 
gained much favor, generally, under the preaching 
of our pioneer ministers, and as its power and influ- 
ence for good spread and widened and had began to 
attract the attention of the public, it was for the first 
time providentially apprised of the existence of a 
body of people in Indiana, called General Baptists, 
holding the same doctrinal views. 

In the fall of 1854, Rev. H. S. Gordon, Rev. Wm. 
Bradley and Deacon J. P. Short, equipped with 



328 EARLY HISTORY 

wagon and team, blankets and some provisions, start- 
ed out on what, in that day, was deemed a long and 
tedious journey, to attend a meeting of the Liberty 
Association of General Baptists, in order to form 
acquaintance with them, learn from whence they 
came, who and what they were, their doctrines, &c. 
Said visit resulted in a fraternal and reciprocal cor- 
respondence, which was continued for many years. 
Finding that we were all espoused to the same cause 
and agreed in doctrine and church government, and 
in order to give strength, through union of effort, in 
the year 1856 we adopted the name of General Bap- 
tists, which name we bore for about twenty years. 

In the meantime the work had spread rapidly in 
every direction until its churches had been dotted 
over five or six counties in the southern part of the 
State. 

About this time, through the preaching of Rev. 
Wm. Carlyle, Robt. Lee and Silas Parker, the work 
spread eastward and now embraced about seven coun- 
ties. The good work was prosecuted vigorously by 
those earnest, self-sacrificing men and success seemed 
to follow, and God's blessing attend them wherever 
they went to preach the word. Many souls were 
converted and made happy, and God's kingdom 
wonderfully built up. Although opposition was to be 
overcome and our close Baptist brethren never lost 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 329 

an opportunity to hinder the advancement of the 
work, declaring and contending that our ministers 
weie not duly and regularly qualified to administer 
the ordinances of the church or solemnize marriage, 
and in short were not in the "regular apostolical suc- 
cession." But conscientious convictions impelled 
them forward with irristible force, until prejudices 
began to give way, and christian toleration and liber- 
ty, untrammelled by usage, beheld the light of a 
brighter day, and General Baptist became largely, in 
many parts of the country, the prevailing denomina- 
tion and their ministerial strength had been wonder- 
fully increased by the addition of quite a number of 
newly ordained ministers; among whom we call to 
mind, J. M. Madglin, Willis Charles, W. P. Hale, 
J. Teffertillar, J. C. Gilliland, Jas. Mcintosh W. L. 
Smart, A. Pearson, G. A. Gordon and others and the 
work continued to enlarge and increase. 

Perhaps in the year 1865 or 1866, we held our 
Association with Mt. Olivet Church, in Hamilton, 
Hamilton county. Among other visiting brethren 
present at that meeting was Rev. J. S. Brown, from 
Lebanon, Illinois, formerly a minister in the Close 
Baptist church, who had withdrawn from them on 
account of the communion question, and had as- 
sociated with him, Rev. Harry Thompson, M. 
A. Shepard, and others, and had organized a nura- 
21 



330 EARLY HISTORY 

ber of churches on the free communion principle, 
throughout St. Clair and Washington counties, and 
feeling that in union there is strength, he asked for his 
churches admission, which request was granted, and 
they were received and henceforth formed a part of 
the Southern Illinois Association. 

Our work had now spread over eight or nine coun- 
ties, and a desire to still further enlarge their denom- 
inational work, usefulness and strength, by united ef- 
fort. 

The Association sent Revs. Wm. Bradley, G. A. 
Gordon and J. Gilliland, as delegates to a conven- 
tion which was called to meet in Indiana, to discuss 
and advise as to the propriety, and lay plans looking 
to the union of all General Baptists in the United 
States, which resulted, finally, in the organization of 
a General Association, and in the year 1871 the 
Southern Illinois Association became a member of 
that body, and by united effort their influence for good 
began to be realized and their position respected 
everywhere and God graciously blessed the work 
and extended his kingdom. 

In the year 1869 the Association having grown so 
large that it was inconvenient for the churches to be 
represented by their delegates at the annual Associ- 
ations it was agreed to divide the territory and form 
a new Association. In view of this fact it was ar- 
ranged that all the churches east of the Illinois Cen 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 331 

tral Railroad should be organized into, and known 
as, the Mt. Olivet Association. All west to retain 
the old name. 

As time passed on a more intimate acquaintance 
with the Free-Will Baptists was cultivated. Dele- 
gates from that body from different parts of the 
United States corresponded with, and visited us, from 
time to time, which on our part was reciprocated, 
and as we learned more and more of them, of their 
doctrines, plans and facilities for doing aggressive 
and successful work in the way of education, publi- 
cation and missionary enterprises, and believing that 
greater good could be accomplished by union of ef- 
fort of all liberal Baptists, holding substantially the 
same religious views, there was called a meeting of 
the Association to consider the advisability of consol- 
idation with the Free-Will Baptists. Consequently, 
in October, 1875 there was organized the Central Illi- 
nois Yearly Meeting of Free-Will Baptists, composed 
of all the churches belonging to trie Association, 
which had been divided into two quarterly meetings 
heretofore. Also, a number of churches in Johnson 
and Williamson counties, known as General Free- 
Will Baptists, built up under the labors of Rev. W. 
H. Blankenship and others, they having passed 
through, many of the hardships incident to every de- 
parture from established rules and usages. These 



332 



EARLY HISTORY 



three Quarterly Meetings now constituted the new 
Yearly Meeting. Since that time we have been 
known and recognized as Free- Will Baptists. Our 
borders have been extended rapidly and three other 
Quarterly Meetings have been added to our number, 
making now six Quarterly Meetings in all. 

1st, Looney Springs; 2d, Lebanon; 3d, Makan- 
da; 4th, Wayne County; 5th, Franklin; 6th St. 
Francis Quarterly Meeting, in Missouri ; thus occu- 
pying a much larger field than ever before, by nearly 

one-half. 

Its borders embraced now, the counties of Ran- 
dolph, Perry, Jackson, Union, Williamson, Johnson, 
Hamilton, Franklin, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, 
Washington, St. Clair, and two counties in Missouri, 
having an aggregate membership of 2224 at our last 
annual report in 1881, with fifty churches and forty- 
two ordained ministers. 

Among the number of ministers who have done 
much for the success of our beloved cause and have 
sacrificed both time and money, and given the best 
energies of their lives, we might mention Revs. H. 
S. Gordon, Wm. Bradley, Wm. Carlyle, W. H. 
Blankenship, Harry Thompson, J. C. Gilliland, G. 
A. Gordon, M. A. Shepard, T. O. McMinn, J. C. 
Cully, David Ashby, J. S. Gullege, W. H. Copas, 
and many others; then there is a host of brethren, 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 333 

some of whom are resting from their labors and now 
sleep with the fathers who have been, and are faith- 
ful, devoted and self-sacrificing servants of the Mas- 
ter, and strong pillars in the church of Christ. 

Through the many changes, trials and perplexities 
of these anxious years the founder of the liberal 
Baptists of Southern Illinois, has struggled, contend- 
ing firmly for the faith once delivered to the saints, 
and has lived to see liberal Baptist doctrines and sen- 
timents so thoroughly inculcated in the minds of the 
people, and so universally endorsed and admired and 
so kindly received and practiced, that no grander 
appreciation of his labors could be bestowed, nor to 
his ability a more flattering tribute paid, than the en- 
dorsement by so many hundreds of the cause he 
early espoused, nor a stronger assurance of Heav- 
ens approval, than to know that under God's bless- 
ing, success has attended him and his early co-labor- 
ers, of whom only two or three are now living, and- 
to all of whom belong the privilege of bearing many 
of the scars and reproaches that always attend every 

departure from the old beaten way. 

I add the names and Post Office address of the 
ministers of our Yearly Meeting, at present : 

H. S. Gordon, Percy, Randolph county 111. 

Wm. Bradley, Murphysborough, Jackson county, 
Illinois. 



334 EARLY HISTORY 

G. A. Gordon, Campbell Hill, Jackson county, 
Illinois. 

W. R. Wilson, Rockwood, Randolph county, Illi- 
nois. 

W. A Bishop, Carbondale, Jackson county Illinois. 

J. H. Cully, Carbondale, Jackson county, Illinois. 

J. W. Freeman, Carbondale, Jackson county, Illi- 
nois. 

J. Mullenax, Carbondale Jackson county, Illinois. 

C. Phelps, Pomona, Jackson county, Illinois. 

A. S. Tripp, Pomona, Jackson county, Illinois. 
Ab. Pearson, Chester, Randolph county, Illinois. 
J. C. Gilliland, DeSoto, Jackson county, Illinois. 
J. D. Tindale, Rockwood, Randolph county, Illi- 
nois. 

H. S. Nations, Pine Hill, Missouri. 

Hartell, Pine Hill, Missouri. 

M. E. Stephens, Makanda, Jackson county Illi- 
nois. 

Y. B. Sutter, Tamaroa, Perry county. Illinois. 

M. A. Shepard, Lebanon, St. Clair, county, Illi- 
nois. 

H. Thompson, Lebanon, St. Clair county, Illinois. 

S. E. Rogers, Ashly, Washington county, Illinois. 

J. H. Smith, Ashley, Washington, county, Illinois. 

B. F. Keller, Laur, Illinois. 

L. S. Brayfield, Franklin county, Illinois. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 335 

W. D. Cockram, Franklin county, Illinois. 

Isham Belbry, Franklin county, Illinois. 

P. O. Franklin, Franklin county, Illinois. 

N. C. Curry, Franklin county, Illinois. 

T. O. McMinn, Carterville, Williamson county, 
Illinois. 

W. L. Smart, South America, Illinois. 

J. Gullege, Marion, Williamson, county, Illinois. 

J. F. Kirk, Cottage Home, Williamson county, 
Illinois. 

I. W. Isaacs, Thompsonville, Franklin county Illi- 
nois. 

J. W. Phelps, Tamaroa, Perry county, Illinois. 

N. M. Roberts, Thompsonville, Franklin county, 
Illinois. 

W. L. Miller, Makanda, Jackson county, Illinois. 

W. C. Travelstead, Jackson county, Illinois. 

W. E. Clark, Liberlyville, Missouri. 

W. H. Copas, Liberlyville, Missouri. 

J. Wood, DeLassus, Missouri. 

W. Mitchell, St. Joe, Missouri. 

John Rhodes, Bone Gap, Illinois. 

Rev. Moon, Bone Gap, Illinois. 

G. A. Gordon, 

March 15th, 1882. Campbell Hill, 111. 



336 EARLY HISTORY 



OHIO ASSOCIATION. 

On Saturday, November 25th, 1854, Smyrna, 
Union, Philadelphia, Freedom, Friendship and 
Pleasant Hill churches from Cumberland Associa- 
tion of General Baptists, together with three new- 
churches, to-wit : Sneads Chapel, Mt. Pleasant and 
New Liberty, numbering 414 members were by El- 
ders Peter F. Ogilly, sr., Wm. W. Locke and John 

D. Gregory, organized in to an Association at Un- 
ion Church, Hardin county, Illinois. This body of 
people adopted the Constitution, Rules of Decorum 
and Confession of Faith of the Cumberland Asso- 
ciation of General Baptists and took the name of 
Ohio Association. 

This Association has held annual meetings regu- 
larly ever since its organization* The Ministers 
who were most active in the early history of this As- 
sociation, were those above named together with 
John Onyett, Charles Onyett, W. W, Hurt, Caswell 
Mason, Asa Lanear, Moze Lanear, Wm. Milligan, 

E. Oxford and J. R. Oxford. All but the three last 
named have finished their course on earth and gone 
to their reward. The names mentioned, both living 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 337 

and dead are and were men of irreproachable char- 
acter and some of them were men of considerable 
Ministerial ability. 

"The Ministers who are now and have been do- 
ing active service for some time in this Association, 
are John Thornton, J. B. Tucker, J. T. Ledbetter, 
B. L. Ledbetter, W. E. Gray, T. D. Gossage, Cal- 
vin Jackson, F. M. Randolph and Dr. M. E. Bar- 
ker. 

Elder Thornton has been a very active Minister for 

the last twelve years." 

The Association has several licentiates as follows : 
J. Jack, A. Briggs, G. Vaughn. J. Blair, A. Dut- 
ton, J. Shadawin, J. Plemmons and J. Burns, who 
is probably ordained. 

This Association now numbers about seven hun- 
dred members and is in a better working condition 
than it has been in some years previous. We would 
have been glad to have inserted short biographical 
sketches of those old veterans in the Ministry and 
those deceased Ministers. To obtain what we have 
of these, has been the most difficult part of our work. 
We have never met but two of these Ministers and 
our acquaintance was very short, having only met 
them at General Associations. We have requested 
Elder Wm. Millikan to send us short biographies of 
those old Ministers which we will insert if they reach 



338 EARLY HISTORY 

us in time. Brother J. A. Oxford, of Sparks Hill, 
Illinois, has kindly assisted in obtaining material for 
this sketch. 



ELDER WILLIAM MILLIKAN 

Was born April 6th, 1814, in Jefferson county, 
Tennessee. His parents were members of a close 
communion Baptist church, and his father a Minister, 
who died during the late war. Brother Millikan pro- 
fessed religion at an early age, and united with a 
close Baptist church, and remained with that people 
until he became acquainted with the General Bap- 
tists, whose doctrines and usages were congenial 
with his understanding of the scripture. Among 
these people he became a Minister and was ordained 
May 2d, 1857, and continued to work among them 
with much zeal, earnestness and success for a num- 
ber of years, but from a want of financial support he 
has been compelled to leave considerable of the 
Ministry and resort to secular employment to sustain 
his family. He has been a member of the church 
forty-two years and called to pass through many 
sore afflictions or trying persecutions, yet no charge 
of immorality or dishonesty has ever been brought 

against him. He has been a member of the Ohio 
Association in Illinois ever since its organization. 



IN THE UNI i ED STATES. 339 

He has been married twice, first to Miss Barbara L. 
Cole in 1847. After her decease he was married to 
Mrs. Josephine Dale in 1878. He is now, April, 
1882, in very feeble health, yet he can say in the 
language of the Apostle: "Though the outward 
man perish yet the inner man is renewed day by 
day." Brother Milikan feels that his labors have not 
been sufficiently rewarded by his brethren. But he 
is resigned and submissive and expresses a strong 
hope of meeting many of them beyond the grave. 
He urges the necessity of our young men qualifying 
themselves for the Ministry and insists on the 
churches giving them a support. 



UNITED ASSOCIATION. 

In the beginning of the history of this body of 
people it is necessary to give a brief sketch of the 
life of Elder Samuel T. Thompson, who "was born 
in Louisa county, Virginia, on the 15th day of June, 
1816". His education was quite limited. He came 
to Pike county and in 1838 professed religion June 
1843, and united with the Flat Creek church of United 
Baptists, and was baptized by Elder John Almon 
February 1843. He was licensed to preach the Gos- 



340 EARLY HISTORY 

pel in the fall of 1843, and was ordained in the fall 
of 1844 by Elder John Almon, Frances Slator and 
Deacon Wm. McComic from a close study of the 
scripture. Elder Thompson soon became convinced 
that close communions, which was practiced by the 
United Baptists, was an error, therefore he, in com- 
pany with seventeen members and one licensed 
preacher, Thomas Jones, withdrew from the United 
Baptists in 1851 and constituted a church on the ar- 
ticles of Faith of the Liberty Association of General 
Baptists, which they gave the name of Flat Creek 
Church of free Communion United Baptists, with 
Elder Thompson as their Pastor, and they continued 
to plant churches successfully until in 1859 when they 
numbered 8 churches. When Elder T. M. Strain 
and G. P. Cavanah, from Old Liberty Association of 
General Baptists, visited them and they agreed to 
unite with some churches in Warrick county, which 
belonged to Old Liberty Association of General Bap- 
tists. 

Accordingly in September 1860 Elder S. T. Thomp- 
son with the following churches and their represen- 
tatives met with Little Bethany Church, Warrick 
county, Indiana, and organized United Association 
of General Baptists. The original churches were 
Flat Creek, Bethel, Mt. Olive, Little Bethany, Mt. 
Zion, Enon and Ridge. These are the churches that 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 341 

Elder Thompson planted before Elder Strain and 
Cavanah visited them and the following are the 
churches that were granted letters from, Old Liberty 
Association in order to join United, which were ad- 
mitted at this first meeting in 1860, Richland, Betha- 
bara, Mt. Gilead, Otter Creek, Sharon, Mt. Olive, 
Bethany and Union. This gave United Association 
15 churches and 845 members to start with. At the 
second meeting held with Mt. Zion church, Pike 
county, Indiana, we find the following list of Minis- 
ters, most of whom the writer has met, but many of 
them are now 1881, deceased. Ordained Ministers. 

S. T. Thompson, Ransom Voils, H. B. Borders, 
Jacob Cokes, John Stephenson, John Lacer, J. G. 
Lane, James Thomas, Levi Voils, Wm. Carter, H. 
H. Griggs, T. A. Price, Solomon Rhodes, Wm. 
Sturgeon, James Houghland, H. Borders, J. Powel, 
J. R. Lacer, Jacob Houghland, David Perkins J. J. 
Collins and O. C. Bright, 

This Association was a working body and great 

prosperity followed their labor. 

In ten years after their organization, or in 1870, 
they numbered thirty-eight churches and 2017 com- 
municants. At this date it was found expedient 
to letter off Mt. Olive, Pilgrim, Ephisus, Pleasant 
Grove, Union, Hosmer, Nashville, St. Joseph, 
Wood, Flat Creek, Pleasant Ridge, Mt. Tabor, 



342 EARLY HISTORY 

Enon and Mt. Pisgah churches to form a new Asso- 
ciation which was constituted on Friday, before the 
fourth Sabbath in September, 1870, and took the 
name of Flat Creek, an account of which will follow 
soon. At their annual meeting in 1871, they number- 
ed twenty-three churches and 1320 members. In 
tracing their history through the next ten years, or 
up to 1881, we find them engaged in supporting all 
the enterprises of our denomination, and their labors 
have been blest with a continual, steady growth, 
and they now number twenty-six churches and 1745 
members. This Association has never had to con- 
tend with any serious difficulties and may be consid- 
ered one of the most prosperous Associations in the 
General Baptist connection. 

They now number twenty-five ordained ministers 
and three licentiates. The following are the names of 
the ordained ministers : 

S. L. Purdue, Robt. Bullock, J. M. Bullock, E. 
S. Bates, Isaac Barrett, G. Campbell, L. Spradley, 
James Hart, John Stephenson, C. C. Boyer, J. Hin- 
der, F. M. Boardman, A. Price, I. S. Hay, L. 
Houchins, David Perkins, James Wiggs, G. W. Ho- 
gars, W. T.* Topper, O. C. Bright, M. B. West, W. 
Chesser, Levi Voils, H. Brown, W. L. Stephens. 

The licentiates are, H. Hart, J. E. Perkins and 
J. Burton. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 343 

This closes the history of this interesting body of 
people, with the exception of some biographical 
sketches of deceased ministers, which will now fol- 
low. 

Elder David Perkins, who was a member of old 
Liberty Association and has been a member of the 
United Association for many years, has preserved a 
complete file of minutes of this Association and k is 
from these that we have been enabled to write the 
preceeding account, with the exception of that part 
which relate particularly to Elder S. T. Thompson, 
which we obtained from an article written by Elder 
F. M. Kerr, who was a son-in-law of Elder Thom- 
son. We have not given the increase and decrease 
of this Association, as we have of old Liberty, Union 
and some others, nor do we consider it necessary to 
follow all* the Associations through their trials and 
persecutions, as we have old Liberty and Union in 
particular, for what has been said of these two may, 
with a very little variableness, be said of all of Gen- 
eral Baptist Associations in the west. The ministers 
in this Association are generally uneducated, but 
they are zealous workers for the cause of Christ. 

Below we give the names of Moderators and 
Clerks. The figures opposite their names indicate 
the number of times each one served. 



344 EARLY HISTORY 



MODERATOR. 

Elder S* T. Thompson. - - - - 3 

do Thos. A. Price, 1 

do Solomon Rhodes, - 2 

do David Perkins, - 5 

. do J. G. Lane - - 3 

do John Stephens - - 1 

do Levi Voils, - - 3 

do A. C. West, - - 1 

do I. S. Hay, - - 3 

CLERK. 

Temple Woolsey, 2 

J. Green, - - - - - 1 

S. W. Parker, - - 8 
J. M. Fuller, - - - -'-..- 2 

Elder W. T. Hopkins, - 1 

T. J. Downs, - 2 

Henry Kelly, - 2 

Joshua McKenney, 1 

Elder J. G. Lane, - - 1 

T. J. Hargan, 1 

Rice Wilson - - 1 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 345 



ELDER SOLOMON RHODES. 

"Elder Rhodes was born in the State of Ken- 
tucky, July 11th, 1811, and came to Warrick coun- 
ty, Indiana, when quite a small boy. He professed 
faith in Christ, August, 1847 and united with M. E. 
church, but soon became dissatisfied with some of its 
doctrines and usages. He cast his lot with the Mt. 
Gilead church of General Baptists, in the fall of 1847, 
whose doctrines were perfectly congenial with his re- 
ligious sentiments. He was licensed by a presbytery 
consisting of Elders Thomas Fuller and Alvah Par- 
ker, in December, of the same year. 

In September, 1848, a presbytery, consisting of 
several ministers, among whom were Elders T.« M. 
Strain, Jesse Lane, sr., and Alvah Parker, ordained 
Elder Rhodes to the full work of the ministry, and 
he entered at once upon a life of activity and useful- 
ness in the Master's cause. 

Elder Rhodes was not so brilliant and fluent as 

some other men, but he was noted for his untiring 

energy and zeal. His heart was always in the work 

and he was loved and honored by all who knew him. 

22 



346 



EARLY HISTORY 



But few, if any, ever accomplished more good in the 
United Association of General Baptists than Elder 
Rhodes. 

He was an excellent exhorter. His main power 
was in revival meetings. Some conversions nearly 
always followed his meetings, thus building up the 
churches both in membership and spirituality. In 
proof of which we cite you to Bethany, his old home 
church, which numbers 225 members. Elder Rhodes 
was an uncompromising Baptist, advocating their 
principles wherever he went, traveling from one 
neighborhood to another, sparing neither time nor 
means for their success. 

After a life of thirty-three years as a faithful and 
truly devoted christian, he fell asleep in Jesus, in the 
full triumph of a living faith, January 1st, 1880, be- 
ing seventy-nine years old." 

This sketch was furnished us by Bro. S. W. Par- 
ker, a son of Elder Alvah Parker, who now lives 
near Boonville, Warrick county, Indiana. 



LIBERTY ASSOCIATION, MISSOURI 

This Association was organized in 1862, either in 

Bolinger or Cape Girardeau county, by Elders Wm. 
Darnell and Uriah Stratton. When the first churches 
were planted I am not able to say, but it is very evi- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 347 

dent, that these men were very successful, for soon 
many new churches were planted and an Association 
gathered, which increased so rapidly, that many of 
its churches were lettered off to form the New Lib- 
erty Association in 1869, and it is still a large and 
growing body, and now, 1881, numbers 30 churches 
and 860 members and I find in their minutes of this 
year the names of 17 Ministers, which are as follows : 

James F. Young, J. M. Bolin, W. P. Stoval. W. 
L. Gower, T. B. Helm, H. H. Stratton, T. H. 
Newel, J. Nelson, N. Stratton, J. M. F. Young, M. 
E. Helton, T. J. Strafford, J. W. Bolin, J. A. Parish, 
W. R, Darnell, J. M. Green, U. Stratton. They 
keep a general Missionary in the field all the year 
and are doing a great work. 

Elder Silas Parker, who formerly belonged to the 
Mt. Olivet Association of General Baptists in South- 
ern Illinois, was their Missionary last year and at 
their last Annual Association held in October, 1881, 
reported as follows : 

"In connection with other brethern I held pro- 
tracted meetings, one at Asherville, five conversions, 
one at New Lisbon, fourteen conversions. Brother 
Helen, the Pastor, baptized ten persons. I have 
constituted three churches, traveled 1200 miles, 
preached 150 times, gave 50 exhortations, witnessed 
50 conversions, baptized 38 persons." At their last 



348 EARLY HISTORY 

session "a general increase was reported, six new 
churches were received". This is all the imforma- 
tion I have obtained of this Association. 

If the sale of this book justifies and a demand is 
made for another edition, it would be well for the 
different Associations to appoint some one of their 
number to furnish material for the history of each 
Association with the meager information from some 
of the Associations, most all of the interesting inci- 
dents are left out. Elder G. A Gordon has fur- 
nished a good model in the history of the Southern 

Illinois Association. 

If any party or parties are interested enough to 
send me additional accounts of interest, I will care- 
fully put them away, even if I never use them, they 
can be found in the future. We have but little idea 
of the vast amount of trouble there is in securing 
those things, until we begin to look for them. 



THE CENTRAL ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION. 

Some time during the late war, probably in 1862 
or 1863 some Free-Will-Baptists from the Cumber- 
land Association of Middle Tennessee, and some 
General Baptists from Kentucky moved to Franklin 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 349 

county in Southern Illinois, they found there some 
General Baptists. These people frequently met each 
other and on comparing their church government 
and articles of Faith, there was no difference between 
them. 

Therefore they began to preach together and organ- 
ized several churches, the oldest of which were 
Friendship, New Hope, Springdale, Union, Free- 
will and Freedom. They then met in Franklin 
county, Illinois, and organized the Central Illinois 
Association of General Free-Will Baptists on the ar- 
ticles of Faith of Liberty Association of General Bap- 
tists. This Association continued to prosper until 
1874 it numbered 547 members, about this time or 
perhaps a few years before. This Association be- 
came nearly, if not altogether disorganized. The 
trouble that caused the division among these people 
was the question of raising the salary of Ministers. 
Four churches went to the Free-Will Baptists north, 
four to the Southern* Illinois Association of General 
Baptists, and in 1879 four remained undecided, not 
knowing what to do. 



350 EARLY HISTORY 



UNION GROVE ASSOCIATION. 

This Association has churches in the counties of 
Wayne. Clay, Marion, Jefferson and White in Illinois. 

As has been stated in the history of Liberty In- 
diana, churches were planted in Illinois. The first 
of these was organized by Elder Benoni Stinson in 
the fall of 1853. At that meeting Elder Stinson, as- 
sisted by Elder Samuel Branch of the Free-Will Bap- 
tist, ordained James W. Gwin and Thompson Fares 

to the full work of the Ministry. 

This church united with Liberty Association in 
Indiana. Elder Gwin continued to preach with 
great success and organized another church on the 
26th day of March, 1859. Elder Gwin and Elder 
Branch ordained Hesekiah H. Brown and Wm. M. 
Montgall. These Ministers preached to these two 
churches and at other points, until in the fall of 1863 
they numbered four churches, and asked permission'of 
Liberty Association to be constituted an Association 
in Illinois. Accordingly ElderBenoni Stinson met with 
these brethern and their four churches in 1863 and 
organized Union Grove Association of General Bap- 
tists. Since then these people have worked faithful, 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 351 

and now, 1881, number 17 churches, 16 ordained 
Ministers and 593 members. Elder Gwin who was 
in the organization of the first church in this Associ- 
ation, is the same man that Elder Poyner mentions in 
connection with the history of the Social Band Asso- 
ciation of General Free Will Baptists in Missouri and 
Arkansas. 

Elder H. H. Brown is now quite old and we be- 
lieve he lives in or near Johnson ville, Wayne county, 
Illinois. Elder Wm. M. Montgall was born in Or- 
ange county, Ind., in 1830, moved to Illinois about 
1842, and united with Arington Prairie Church in 1856 
and was soon licensed to preach. Elder Montgall 
was a true and faithful Minister and success followed 
his labor. He was respected by all as a worthy 
Minister. He was to the Union Grove Association 
what Elder G. P. Cavanah was to Liberty. The 
Association feels that in his death they sustained al- 
most an irreparable loss, and like Elder Cavanah, 
he lingered for about two years with that dread dis- 
ease, consumption, and in 1869 peacefully fell asleep 
in the full confidence of a grand and glorious im- 
mortality with Christ and his redeemed. Let those 
people continue to pray that his mantle may fall on 
some of their young men. Elder W. D. Wendle of 
Xenia, Clay county, Illinois, has kindly furnished us 



352 EARLY HISTORY 

with material for this Association. We here append 
the names of all their Ministers : 

Elders H. A. Madon, W. D. Wendle, J. W. 
Wood, T. M. Richardson, J. F. Clevenger, A. Ty- 
ler, S. C. Sherwood, G. W. Pennington, H. H. 
Brown, M. C. Tubs, A. D. Shearhorn, A. Perry, 
J. P. Turner, R. Keirsey, R. T. Forth, J. H. Win- 
die, E. Brown, M. R. Durell. 



MISSOURI ASSOCIATION. 

In order to properly instruct the reader, we will 
give a brief sketch of the life of Elder Thomas Nor- 
ris. Norris was born in Gates county, North Caro- 
rolina, February 6th, 1810. His parents died when 
he was a child, and he was raised without any book 
education. Was married to Pennina Piland; moved 
to Kentucky in 1834; professed religion and united 
with the Mt. Lebanon Church of General Baptists of 
Union Association of Kentucky, August 11th, 1842, 
and was baptized by Elder J. M. Hunt. He at once 
began to try to read his Bilble and Hymn book and 
to work for the cause of Christ. He was licensed to 
preach at Liberty Church, Henderson county, Ken- 
tucky, April 18th, 1844, by the following presbytery: 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 353 

Elders Jacob Holman, W. W. Jenkins, Charles W. 
Brown, Benoni Stinson, and was ordained at .Mt. 
Lebanon Church of General Baptists, Henderson 
county, Kentucky, December 28th, 1846, by the 
following presbytery ; Elders James M. Hunt, M. 
Fraser, M. L. Hunt, and moved in company with 
Samuel Piland to Ozark county, Missouri, in the Fall 
of 1846. On Saturday before the first Sabbath in 
January, 1847, Brother Norris and wife and Samuel 
Piland and wife held a council and agreed to form 
themselves into a church, and for their government 
adopted the Constitution, Rules of Decorum and 
Articles of Faith of the Union Association of Gen- 
eral Baptists of Kentucky. This church was called 
Mt. Lebanon and is the beginning of the General 
Baptists in this part of Missouri. Eider Norris was 
now in a strange country, uneducated and poor in 
this worlds goods, having to labor hard for the sup- 
port of his family and surrounded by other denomi- 
nations, it was thought that his Ministerial labors 
would prove a failure. But he was zealous, faithful 
and devoted to the cause of his Master, regularly at- 
tending his Saturday and Sabbath appointments, some- 
times walking from five to twenty miles to meet his 
congregations. God blessed his labors and in a few 
years Mt. Lebanon Church was the largest in that 
entire community, and soon other churches were or- 



354 EARLY HISTORY 

ganized and some young Ministers raised up in the 
country. In his travels he met other Liberal Bap- 
tists and uniting their labors with his, the Free Com- 
munion Baptists were taking the lead in this coun- 
try, when the late civil war broke out. 

In time of the war Elder Norris preached as much 
as the times and circumstances would admit, but 
during the war the most of the churches were disor- 
ganized, Mt. Lebanon however still maintained her 
organization. At the close of the war Elder Norris 
found himself alone again, so far as General Bap- 
tists were concerned. In time of the war he was on 
the side of the Union; soon after the war he organiz- 
ed Liberty and Spring Creek Churches and revivals 
followed at each of these churches. In 1866 their 
numbers had so increased that they discussed the 
propriety of concentrating their forces into an Asso- 
ciation. Therefore delegates from Mt. Lebanon, 
Liberty, Spring Creek and Union churches met with 
Mt. Lebanon Church in Ozark county, Missouri, on 
the 1st day of December, 1866, and organized Mis- 
souri Association of General Baptists by electing El- 
der Thomas Norris, Moderator, and Wm. Norris, 
Clerk. There were at the meeting reported 182 
members. They also adopted the Constitution, Rules 

of Decorum and Article of Faith of the Union Asso- 
ciation of General Baptists in Kentucky. 



IN THE UNI i ED STATES. 355 

About this time, or 1867, at their second meet- 
ing they ordained to the full work of the ministry, 
J. M. Lewis, R. M. Miller and W. T. Miller. Up 
to this time Elder Norris had pastored all the church- 
es. Elders J. M. Lewis and R. M. Miller soon 
made valuable ministers, but alas! in a few years R. 
M. Miller was called from the walks of men, in the 
very prime of life, but J. M. Lewis is now, 1881, an 
able minister, and nearly ever since 1867 some new 
minister has been added and some of them are doing 
valuable work for Christ. 

Elder A. Cobb, a Free-Will Baptist, went into the 
organization of the Missouri Association, but soon 
went back to the Free-Will Baptists, but now he be- 
longs to the Little Vine Association of General Bap- 
tists. 

Elder Norris is now, May 7th, 1881, still living and 
is seventy-one years old, but is able to preach regu- 
larly to two churches, and in his declining years has 
the satisfaction of seeing the Associations blest with 
a goodly number of able and useful ministers. 

The material for this account was furnished us by 
the Hon. Wm. H. Norris, who was then, 1881, a mem- 
ber of the Missouri State Legislature. He was clerk 
of the convention that met to organize the Associa- 
tion in 1869, and is a member of Missouri Associa- 
tion at present. 

The minutes of 1881 do not give the names of or- 
dained ministers, separately. 



356 



EARLY HISTORY 



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IN THE UNITED STATES. 357 



FLAT CREEK ASSOCIATION. 

As has been stated above, the Flat Creek Associa- 
tion was constituted in 1870. The original churches 
of the United Association, with some others, consti- 
tuted this body of General Baptists. Elder S. T. 
Thompson, or "Father Thompson," as he was com- 
monly called, may very properly be considered the 
founder of this people, as he organized most of 
the churches that first constituted it, with several 
others that were left in the United Association. 

Notwithstanding, Elder Thompson did much for 
these people in preaching and planting churches, lie 
in reviewing his ministerial life regretted very much 
that in the only part of his life he had taught the 
churches not to remunerate the faithful pastor for his 
labor. 

A lew years before he died, however, he felt that 
this teaching was wrong and endeavored, as much as 
possible, to correct his error, and taught that they 
that preach the gospel shall live off the gospel. This 
has been a grave mistake with too many General 
Baptists, not early in United and Flat Creek Associa- 
tions, but in all of the General Baptist Associations. 
Therefore, we find many of our ministers are com- 



358 EARLY HISTORY 

pelled to follow some secular employment in order 
to sustain their families. The Flat Creek Association 
does not seem to have prospered as much as some 
other General Baptist Associations. They probably 
have more to contend with and their forces are more 
scattered. 

Bro. J. O. M. Selby sends me the names of some 
of the deceased ministers who first belonged to this 
body. 

Elder William Woods died some time prior to 1873. 
Elder Thomas died in 1876; Eider P. Boling, in 
1876; the date of Elder Simeon Wood's death is not 
known; Wm. T. Hopkins died November 5th, 1877. 
We have endeavored to obtain a few lines setting 
fourth the peculiar characteristics of these brethren, 
but have not succeeded. 

The Flat Greek Association, with a full representa- 
tion, numbers about 500 members. It has, at 
this time, 1881, the following ordained ministers : 

Wm. M. Chesser, J. J. Laswell, J. W. Shous*, J. 
G. Jackman, I. Smith, R. M. Lucas, A. C. West, D. 
F. Philips, J. N. Baggarly, J. Evans, Wm. F. Rob- 
ertson and F. E. King. 

The licentiates are : I. Pearson, and T. K. Nelson. 

If the hands of those brethren could be loosed so 
that they could devote all their time and energy to 
serving the church, this field would yield an abur- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 359 

dance of fruit. This, we hope, may be so, in the 
very near future. 

This completes the history of the General Baptists 
in Indiana. We are well aware that this work is 
very incomplete but we hope that what we put on 
record may aid some one in the future to do a better 
work. 



MT. OLIVET ASSOCIATION. 

In March, 1855, Elder Wra. Carlisle, an ordained 
minister, who was a member of Mt. Pleasant Church 
of General Baptists, in Posey county, Indiana, which 
belonged to Liberty Association, organized Zion 
Church of General Baptists in Hamilton county, Illi- 
nois. Elder Carlisle was living in Hamilton county 
at this time, and on learning of some Free Cummu- 
nion Baptists in Jackson and Randolph counties, Illi- 
nois, he and R. C. Culty and I. H. Burlison were ap- 
pointed by Zion Church to meet with those Free 
Communion Baptists, at their next meeting or Asso- 
ciation, which convened on Friday, before the third 
Sabbath in October, 1855. 

This Association consisted of Georgetown, Loon- 

ey Springs and Pipe Stone Churches, and Elders 



360 EARLY HISTORY 

Wm. Bradley, R. A. Bradley, H. S. Gordon and 
Isaac Hale. 

Elder H. S. Gordon and R. A. Bradley had, in 
1854, come as delegates to Liberty Association and 
desired a union with the General Baptists and the 
Liberty Association had reciprocated this greeting by 
appointing Elders Benoni Stinson, Alvah Parker and 
J. W. Gwinn, to meet with those brethren and con- 
fer with them in regard to the proposed union. The 
union was effected and Zion Church united with this 
Association, which from this date, took the nanle o- 
the General Baptist Association of Southern Illinois. 
The Lord blest and prospered these people and they 
gained strength, until in 1868, they numbered twenty- 
three churches and as many ministers. About this 
time the question of a union between the General 
Baptists and the Free-Will Baptists north and east 
was agitated all through the • General Baptists de- 
nomination east of the Mississippi River. This 
whole matter is fully detailed in the history of Liberty 
Association and the reasons assigned for so much 
trouble. 

This Association however was divided in sentiment 
on the Union question, the western part, which was 
the strongest, favoring it, the eastern and weaker 
part, opposing it. This state of things continued un- 
til 1869, when by mutual consent the east part of the 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 361 

Association was lettered off to organize a new Asso- 
ciation, and Elders Wm. Bradley and J. C. Gilliland 
were appointed to assist in this work. Accordingly 
the churches which received letters of dismission met 
with Shadsville church in White county, Illinois, on 
Friday before the 4th Sabbath in September 1870, 
and organized Mt. Olivet Association of General 
Baptists. 

Among the Ministers that went into the organiza- 
tion of the Association were Elders Wm. Carlisle, E. 
A. Philips, Willis Charles and W. P. Hale. Several 
new churches have been wadded to this Association 
from time to time, but some of her churches have 
gone to the Free-Will Baptists and some have been 
desolved. She has now 8 or 9 churches with a mem 
bership of over 400, 

The ordained Ministers are Willis Charles, W. P. 
Hale, N. M. Wibbe, Peter Prince, D. W. Ashby, 
Wm. Carlisle, J. E. Cox, Editor of the Golden Rule. 

Licentiates : W. J. Gualtney, John Horgett. 

It will be observed that in point of Ministerial 
ability Mt. Olivet Association compares very favora- 
bly with any Association in the denomination and 
many have been added to her numbers since her 
last session in 1881, and it is believed that a brighter 
day is dawning for this devoted band of christian 

workers. 

23 



362 EARLY HISTORY 



BETHANY ASSOCIATION, MISSOURI. 

Of this Association we know but very little. It 
has never been represented in the General Associa- 
tion. We have never seen or held correspondence 
with any one belonging to the Bethany Association. 
It was reported to the General Association in 1874 
and again in 1880, and supposed to number about 
500 members. We do not know in what part of 
Missouri it is located, but it appears to be remote 
from any of the other General Baptist Associations. 
As we never have seen any account of any corres- 
pondence between it and any of the sister Associa- 
tions in Missouri, Elder T. J. Davis informed us 
however, that there really was such an Association 
in existance, but he had learned that about 1880 it 
was in rather a disorganized state and feared that it 
would become extinct. 



AN ASSOCIATION IN ARKANSAS. 

This Association is partly located in White county, 
Arkansas, although we have not succeeded in ob- 
taining the P. O. Address of any of them, still we 
know that there is such an Association, and it is rep- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 363 

resented as being very large and influential, having 
fine churches and able Ministers, in all the larger 
towns. We yet expect to hear more from it soon. 
I have also heard of another General Baptist Asso 
ciation in Arkansas, called the Strawberry Associa- 
tion, but do not know its location. 

There is also a small group of General Baptists 
near Carter's Store in Washing county, Arkansas, 
with one licensed Minister and they doubtless have 
formed a church before this time, and is probably 
the commencement of a new Association. We have 
been in correspondence with Mr. Harvey Lee, be- 
sides we are personally acquainted with several of 
those who are with him, some of the Kirkpatricks 
and Richards. This closes the history of the Gen- 
eral Baptists now known to us. We have some know- 
ledge of the following Associations of Free-Will Bap- 
tists Associations, who only differ from us in name. 
And the indications now are, that in a few years 
these two bodies will unite as one people under the 
name of General Free-Will Baptists, to this we give 
our hearty Amen. In Missouri we find the Big 
Creek, Pleasant Hill, South West Associations, Crane 
Creek, State Line General Free-Will Baptists and 

North Missouri Free Communion Baptists. Besides 
these six in Missouri, we find in Arkansas the Polk 
Bayou, Mr." Zion, Liberty and the Vernon Associa- 



364 EARLY HISTORY 

tion in Alabama, Cumberland in Tennessee and sev- 
eral others of which we know nothing, except of their 
existance. The seperate Baptists who are located in 
Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa num- 
ber eleven Associations and differ from us only in name, 
and they are in very friendly correspondence with 
us and have several times discussed the propriety of 
adopting the name General Baptists. 



THE SOCIAL BAND ASSOCIATION OF GEN- 
ERAL FREE-WILL BAPTISTS IN MIS- 
SOURI AND ARKANSAS. 

This Association is located in Ripley county, Mis- 
souri and Randolphs county, Arkansas, and proba- 
bly there are churches in some other adjoining coun- 
ties. 

In the year of 1870 Elder David Leroy Poyner, an 

ordained Minister, belonging to the Central Illinois 
Association of General Free-Will Baptists moved with 
his family to Ripley county, Missouri. He and one 
son and one daughter had their letters from the Gen- 
eral Free Will Baptists of Southern Illinois. These 
were all the Free Communion Baptists in that section 
of the country. He found there a few Methodists 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 365 

and Campbellites (as they are called there) and some 
United or close cummunion Baptists, and about 
twenty-five miles from his house lived Elder Gwin, 
formerly a member of the Liberty Association of 
General Baptists in Indiana, and who went into the 
organization of Union Grove Association in Illinois. 
Brother Poyner had with him a few copies of the 
Minutes of the Association, to which he "belonged in 
Illinois. 

These he distributed among the people and began to 
to preach what he understood to be doctrines taught 
by Christ and his Apostles. The peculiar character- 
istics of which was a general atonement and open 
communion. 

Notwithstanding brother Poyner felt that he was 
weak, he remembered that his Lord had said, that 
"out of weakness will I bring strength", therefore he 
resolved to go like David met Goliah "in the name 
and strength of Isreal's God", so he organized 1 a 
church on Saturday before the second Sabbath in 
August 1871, at Sugar Tree Grove Church in Ripley 
county, Missouri, on ten members, then one at Brier 
Creek, with eleven members, then one at Macedonia 
in Randolph county, Arkansas, with seven members, 
and one at New Hope in same state and county on 
twenty members. By this time, 1875, four young 
men to-wit : S. Davis, E. Davis, A. Barrett and L. 



366 EARLY HISTORY 

J. Thorneburg, had been duly licensed and ordained. 
Then the four churches with their delegates met in 
convention with Brier Creek Church and organized 
the Social Band Association of General Free-Will 
Baptists. 

We have now, 1881, writes Elder Poyner, closed 
our seventh annual meeting, peace and harmony has 
prevailed. We have gained steadily but slowly, we 
now have ten churches with over 400 members, eight 
ordained ministers. The four above mentioned and 
myself with M. R. Langiey, C. B. Dilda and F. M. 

Bates. 

Our licentiates are: U. C. Davis, J. F. Murphy 

and D. N. King. 

Brother Poyner further says, we believe that the 
gospel is free and should be preached to the poor 
without money and without price and that it is the 
duty of the church to look after the need of both 

ministers and members. 

This account which is so full of interest, has been 
furnished us by Elder Payner, who in the hands of 
God was the worthy founder of this Association. 
Elder Poyner was born July the second, 1823, in 
Caswell county. North Carolina, professed religion in 
1845 and united with the General Free-Will Baptists 
in Illinois 1867, licenced and ordained in the same 
year and is now 58 years old and it is hoped that his 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 367 

already useful life may be spared yet many years. 
The Liberal Baptists are doing a wonderful work in 
Missouri and Arkansas, and from what we can learn, 
there is reason to believe, that all those Baptists un- 
der the name of General and Free-Will Baptists will 
unite and take the name of General Free-Will Bap- 
tists. This would certainly be a proud move for 
liberal principles in the south-west. There is the 
Liberty, New Liberty, Missouri, Bethany and Little 
Vine, St. Clair Associations of General Baptists in 
Missouri and Arkansas, and of the Free-Will Bap- 
tists in the same state. There is Big Creek, Pleasant 
Hill and Crane Creek in Missouri and the Mt. Zion, 
Polk Bayou and Liberty in Arkansas, and the Social 
Band which carries both names and lies partly in 
both states. Here we see thirteen Associations of 
which we have some knowledge lying adjacent to 
each other and many more of which we have no par- 
ticular account and there is no difference between 
them, only the name and the name of General Free- 
Will Baptists would accommodate all, let the Union 
be affected. 



368 EARLY HISTORY 



MT. UNION ASSOCIATION, KENTUCKY. 

There were no General Baptists in Allen county, 
Kentucky, until 1863, when Elder M. G. Bonner 
moved to this county and commenced preaching the 
General Baptist doctrine, and in that Fall he assist- 
ed in holding two or three revival meetings. At one 
of those meetings the writer found peace with Christ. 
Elder M. J. Bonner, assisted by Elder D. G. Crane, 
organized two churches that Fall, one at Mulberry 
Hill school house, Allen county, and one at Liberty 
Church, Warren county. The former was consti- 
tuted February 8th, 1863, with thirteen members. 
The latter about the same time with a small number. 
We toiled on with but a few members attending our 
regular meetings, some become discouraged, for we 
had to bear persecution from other churches, and 
the frowns of the world, for we were out, as it were, 
in the wilderness by ourselves. Thus we went on 
until 1866, when we appointed delegates with a pe- 
titionary letter to attend the Union Association of 
General Baptists, which met at Pleasant Hope 

Church, McLean county, Kentucky, which was 
about seventy miles from us; we went on horseback. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 369 

Our petition was p-ranted and our two little churches 
became members of that body. 

At this meeting the writer had the pleasure of hear- 
ing Elder Benoni Stinson preach on Sabbath 
to a large congregation and at night listened to 
Elder A. H. Polk, both from Liberty Association in 
Indiana. 

We met with a good many General Baptists at that 
meeting. Our two little churches at that time num- 
bered forty-nine and fifty-four members. In 1870 
Mulberry Hill, now known as Mt. Union Church, 
built a good house and numbered ninety-three mem- 
bers. Another church was organized at Franklin, 
Simpson county, Kentucky. 

In 1876 we petitioned the Union Association for 
letters of dismission in order to be organized into a 
new Association on account of the great distance 
between us. The Union Association met this year 
at Clayville, Webster county, Kentucky, a distance 
of one hundred and twenty-five miles from us. Our 
request was granted and Elders I. H. Henry and 
M. P. Covington appointed to organize the Associa- 
tion which they did on Friday before the second 
Sabbath in December, 1876, at New Harmony 
Church, Todd county, Kentucky, with six churches 
and five hundred and seventv-seven members. Mt. 



370 EARLY HISTORY 

Union Association has been organized five years and 
now, 1881, numbers nineteen churches, nineteenmin- 
isters and 1115 members. We often became discour- 
aged in this world, but if God is for us who can be 
against us. The above has almost entirely been 
taken from an article written by Elder E. L. Kelsey, 
who is a member of the Mt. Union Association. 
This article appeared in Vol. 2d, No. 44 of the Gol- 
den Rule, June 9th, 1881. This Association first 
planted churches in Allen and Warren counties, now 
they are in four others in Kentucky, to-wit : 

Simpson, -Butler, Todd and Grayson, and Mason 
and Sumner in Tennessee. At their last Associa- 
tion held August, 1881, they reported nineteen 
churches and twentv-four Ministers. The rapid 
growth of this Association has thrown the churches 
at such a distance from each other, that they con- 
sidered it expedient to divide the Association, which 
will probably take place in 1882. The Ministers 
now belong to this Association are Wm. L. Harris, 
W. B. Lightfoot, M. Y. H. Holland, J. A. Justice, 
L. W. Spann, B. C. Goodrum, A. Cay, S. Cay, Wm. 
Smith, W. L. Emery, D. Anderson, Jno. M. Burden, 
N. W. Nash, Wm. George. W. Pearce, J. M. Bon- 
ner, W. D. Meados, E. B. Stinson, James Burden, 
M. A. Taylor, G. N. Covington, Jas. M. Frazier, 
J. P. Stinson, Bird Weaver. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 371 



LITTLE VINE ASSOCIATION. 

Little Vine Association of General Baptists is lo- 
cated in the counties of Howell and Oregon in Mis- 
souri, and Fulton county in Arkansas, and is the direct 
offspring of the Missouri Association of General Bap- 
tists and was organized June 29 ih, 1878, on the fol- 
lowing churches: Little Vine, Little Zion, Old Un- 
ion, Violia and South Fork. The Ministers were 
Peter McCracken, J. B. Mahand, W. J. F. Hop- 
kins, A.- Colb. T. H. Welch. Ministers since the 
organization, G. W. McDannel, H. H. Shubart, J. 
W. Llarris, W. R. Hines. 

Churches received since the organization, Good 
Prospect, Pleasant Hill No. 1, Pleasant Hill No. 2, 
Trace Creek, Union Grove and Vienna. It is now 
1881, three years since the little Association was 
constituted on five churches, five Ministers and 180 
members. It now has eleven churches, nine Minis- 
ters and 350 members, and is full of faith and ener- 
gy, and working zealously for the cause of Christ. 
This may appear like a very short sketch of this 
Association, still it is a good one. This was fur- 
nished me by Elder Peter McCracken. Our Wes- 



372 EARLY HISTORY 

tern brethren write like practical busniess men; they 
say a great deal with a very few words. They are 
modest men and avoid everything that appears 
superfluous. 



NEW LIBERTY ASSOCIATION, MISSOURI. 

In the year 1869 the Beachwell church in this As- 
sociation, was organized* There lived in the neigh- 
berhood of Valley Ridge, Dunklin county, Missouri, 
a young man by the name of T. J. Davis, commonly 
called Tom Davis, who was born June 23rd, 1840, 
in Meahley county, in the state of Tennessee, who 
with many others had been converted a short time 
previous to the above date, or on July 27th 1867. 
I believe at a revival conducted by the Methodists, 
Mr. Davis was raised by regular Baptist parents, but 
he could not unite with that church on account of 
the doctrines of predestination held by that denomi- 
nation. He could not unite with the United or Mis- 
sionary Baptists, on account of their close commu- 
nion sentiments. He could not unite with the Metho- 
dists because they did not hold and practice that im- 
mersion, was the only proper mode of Baptism. He 
could not unite with the Campbellites, for he did not 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 373 

believe that men and women are converted or re- 
generated in the act of immersion. Therefore it 
seemed like a foregone conclusion that he was lost so 
far as church relations was concerned. However 
about that time he had some business at the county 
seat of Stoddard county, which was about twenty- 
five miles from his home. After he attended to this 
he started to return home and was soon overtaken by 
a sprightly little man who seemed full of life and con- 
versation, soon a conversation like the following en- 
sued. 

The little man asked Mr. Davis if he was religious. 
Mr. Davis answered in the affirmative. Have you any 
churches where you live. Yes sir. What kind of 
churches. Almost all kinds, Regular Baptists, United 
Baptists and Methodists &c, &<\ Have you any 
General Baptists. No sir. I never heard oi the 
General Baptists, what do they believe. Well sir, 
they believe that in the atonement of Christ salvation 
was mad 2 possible for all men. They believe in the 
Trinity and believe in Baptism by immersion. They 
believe that Jesus Christ is the door into his church 
and that all of the Lords people are one in Christ 
and as such have a right to commune together at the 
Lords table. Here is one of our minutes sir, I be- 
long to the Liberty Association of General Baptists 
in Missouri. 



374 ' EARLY HISTORY 

We have a church about twenty-five miles from 
your house and our monthly meeting comes on Sat- 
urday before the Sabbath, come and hear us and 

understand us more perfectly. This was the doctrine 
that was congenial with the understanding that Mr. 
Davis had of the scriptures. And he exacted a 
promise from the little mm to visit his neighborhood 
and organize a church, if a sufficient number could 
be found who wished to be constituted into a General 
Baptist Church, and they separated. Mr. Davis 
went to his home and carefully compared the articles 
of Faith with the scriptures, and at a meeting held in 
his neighborhood soon after, he announced that on a 
certain Sabbath, he would hive a meeting at a cer- 
tain place which he then mentioned. It was noised 
abroad that Tom Davis was going to preach at the 
said time and place and it is reported that persons 
came from* several miles in every directien to hear 

him. 

It appe irs that Tom had quite a reputation among 

the unconverted and was a noted character for miles 
around. However when a very large and respecta- 
ble congregation had assembled, all expecting to hear 
Tom Davis deliver his first discourse. He arose and 
said : It appears that the people are expecting to 
hear me preach to-day. I did not say that I would 
preach but only announced that I would have meet- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 375 

ing here to-day and quite a meeting we have, and I 
simply wish to tell these people that I have found a 
denomination who hold and practice the very doct- 
rines which I have believed ever since my conver- 
sion and that is the General Baptists". He then 
opened the minute that the little General Baptist 
Preacher had given him and read the articles of Faith 
and commented on them one by one, until he had 
finished the whole 13 articles, which was the confes- 
sion of Faith of the Liberty Association of General 
Baptists in the state of Missouri. Now, said Tom, 
"if there is any one else here who believes as I do 
and desire to go into the organization of a General 
Baptist Church, let them come forward and give me 
their names and I will send and get a General Bap- 
tist Preacher to come and organize us into a church. 
To the astonishment of almost all present, 19 persons 
came forward and cast in their lot with Tom, who 
made their number 20. A short time after this the 
little preacher Elonzo Fowler fullfilled his promise 
and organized this little band into a church on the 
first Sabbath in September 1869. This church took 
the name of Beachwell. On the same, day Tom Da- 
vis was licensed or liberated by this church to exer- 
cise his gifts in public. He was also chosen as its 
Pastor and has continued such ever since and this 
church now, June 1882 numbers about 200 mem 



376 EARLY HISTORY 

bers. This church united with the Liberty Associa- 
tion in Missouri and become the nucleus around 
which gathered several other lively churches which 
together with some others belonging to the Liberty 
Association, were on November 11th 1869, set off 
into a new Association, which took the name of the 
New Liberty Association of General Baptists. The 
delegation, when they had come together to organ- 
ize, formed themselves into "a circle which is typi- 
cal of gods eternal love", and joining hands sang and 
prayed, then extended to each other the right hand 
of fellowship ; then they chose J. F. Patterson as 
Moderator and C. B. Hyson, Clerk. 

This Association was organized on 887 members 
and now numbers 1083. The number of churches 
that went into the organization was 17, nine of which 
were in Stoddard, five in Dunklin and one in Butler 
county, Missouri, and two in Clay county in Arkan- 
sas. They now have 21 chusches. I find in their 
last minute the following list of ordained ministers : 

T. J. Davis, W. E. Almon, L. McFarland, H. H. 
Noble, J. H. Payne, T. J. Stafford, W. E. Bray, 
W. D. Ferris and R. M. Hatley. 

Licenriates: S. J. Bird, J. W. Boyd, Samuel 
Dumeree, J. W. Kinney, John Bridges, W. M. Fro- 
ners and J. W. Miller. 

Eider Davis is an uneducated man but he is well 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 377 

read and an able defender of General Baptist princi- 
ples. He is probably five feet ten inches high, with 
square shoulders, light hair, fair skin, with hazle 
eyes. He is modest and unassuming, not courting 
controversy with any one. Nevertheless, when the 
principles which he holds as dear to him as life are 
trampled upon he rallies at once, and the man who 
is so unfortunate as to come in contact with him sel- 
dom gets away without feeling the worse for the con- 
test. 

He is a great power in Southeast Missouri. It is 
reported of him that so intent was he on preparing 
himself for the sacred office of the ministry that he 
has frequently been known to work hard all day, 
then take his chair by the fireside and there, almost 
forgetful of self, would pour over his books until the 
crowing of the chickens warned him qf the approach 
of day. 

We have never met Elder Davis but once, which 
was at the General Association in 1880, and he then 
spoke in highly commendable terms of all his breth- 
ren in the ministry and seemed to consider them all 
as better qualified ministers than himself. 

Part q£ this sketch, especially the dates were ob- 
tained from Elder Davis, part from their minutes and 

part from other parties. 
24 



378 EARLY HISTORY 



GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL 
BAPTISTS. 

We have seen that the Liberty Church, in Van- 
derburgh county, Indiana, about one mile and a half 
below Evansville, was organized in 1823, with thirty 
three members. In 1824 Liberty Association was 
organized with four churches and two hundred and 
one members. These people continued to plant 
churches in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, until 
1840 when they numbered 890 members, when by 
mutual consent the Association directed, and Union 
Association, in Kentucky was organized. We desire, 

now, to exhibit the increase for each ten years. 

In 1845 these two Associations agreed to hold a 
General Association every two years. This, how- 
ever, was not sustained. In 1846 the Union Associ- 
ation divided and Cumberland Association consti- 
tuted. 

In 1850 these three bodies probably numbered 
1200 members, a gain, in ten years, or from 1840 of 
about 310. 

In 1854 Ohio Association, in Illinois, was consti- 
tuted from churches belonging to Cumberland Asso- 
ciation. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 379 

The Southern Illinois Association of Free Com- 
munion Baptists was organized in 1853 and took the 
name of the Southern Illinois Association of General 
Baptists in 1854 or 1855, I am not certain which. 

The United Association, located principally in 
Warrick and Pike counties, was constituted in 1860. 
At this time the General Baptists must have number- 
ed 2500, a gain of 1300 in ten years, or more than 
100 per cent. 

In 1862 Liberty Association, Missouri, was organ 
ized. 

Then follows Union Grove, Illinois, in 1864; Cen- 
tral Illinois General Free-Will Baptists, probably in 
1863 or 1864; Missouri, in Missouri, in 1867; Flat 
Creek, in Indiana, in 1870 ; Mt. Olivet, Illinois, in 
1870. 

From 1860 to 1870 we find a gain of six Associa- 
tions, or 100 per cent, in the number of Associations, 
and about 8,000 members, a gain of 5,500, which is 

over 200 per cent. 

By referring to the history of Liberty Association 

in Indiana, you will see that a convention of liberal 

Baptists in the United States, had met in 1867, at 

Fort Branch, Gibson county, Indiana, and pursuant 

to adjournment, met with Columbia Church, in the 

same county, in 1868, and laid the foundation for an 

organic union, which, however, was shortly after- 



880 EARLY HISTORY 

ward destroyed. However, a like convention met in 
1867 with old Liberty Church, in Vanderburgh coun- 
ty which failed to reconcile the troubles referred to 
this meeting. If I am not mistaken, it was Rev. 
Ransom Dunn, Professor of Biblical Theology, in 
Hillsdale College, Michigan. That suggested that the 
GeneralBaptists organize themselves into a General As- 
sociation which would the better prepare them for 
considering the question of uniting with other liberal 
Baptists, therefore this convention adjourned to meet 
with Harmony Church, Gallitia county, Illinois, on 
Wednesday, November 2d, 1870. The convention 
met accordingly, with representatives from Liberty, 
Indiana, and Ohio and Mt. Olivet, Illinois. After 
organizing temporarily, Elder John Onyet was chosen 
Moderator and Elder G. W. Moore, Secretary. A 
constitution and by-laws were adopted, together with 
the articles of faith of Liberty Association, in Indi- 
ana. As an introduction to the constitution setting 
forth the design of the General Association, we find 

the following : 

" The constitution of the General Association of 

General Baptists of the United States of America, 
which is designed to comprise all the annual Associa- 
tions in the General Baptist denomination in the 
United States and to complete the organization of the 
connectton, to consolidate the body by harmonizing 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 381 

its different parts, keeping a common interest in view 
and producing a unity of sentiment and discipline, to 
concentrate its strength in the common cause of the 
Redeemer, and by a fraternal interchange of views 
among its members to promote a growth of grace and 
a knowledge of gospel truth." 

This very clearly sets forth the original design of 
the General Association. The Clerk was authorized 
to have printed 500 copies of the Minutes and dis- 
tribute them among the various Associations. Elder 
J. G. Ensle was much interested in this move, and 
it was through his influence that Liberty Association 
was represented at this organization, proffering to 
pay the expense of our delegates if the Association 
neglected it. 

Major J. B. Cox, of Vanderburgh county, India- 
na, accompanied Elder Moore and was of much ser- 
vice in the organization and has since remained a 
faithful supporter of the General Association. 

The second meeting of this body convened with 
Liberty Church, Vanderburgh county, Indiana, No- 
vember 3rd, 1871. Liberty, United and Flat Creek, 
Union, Kentucky; southern Illinois; Ohio; Mt. 
Olivet, Illinois and Missouri were represented. 

At this session the Constitution and By-laws were 
revised and remain as they are at present. 

See Constitution and By-laws : 
/ 



382 EARLY HISTORY 



CONSTITUTION OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION. 

Article 1. — The name of this Association shall 
be the General Association of General Baptists. 

Art. 2. — The objects of this Association are to 
bring into more intimate and fraternal relations and 
effective co-operation various bodies of Liberal Bap- 
tists. 

Art. 3. — The General Association shall be com- 
posed of the representatives of Baptist bodies as har- 
monize generally with the doctrine and usages of the 
Association now constituting the body, who may be 
admitted from time to time, on their own application. 

Art. 4. — The officers of the General Association 
shall be a Moderator and Clerk. 

Art. 5. — The Moderator shall be elected at each 
regular session in such manner as the body may choose, 
and shall perform the duties usually performed by 
presiding officers, serving until his successor is elect- 
ed. A stated Clerk shall be elected from time to 
time, who shall continue in office until superceded by 
a new election. 

Art. 6. — In the letters from the several bodies 
shall be expressed their respective churches in fel- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 383 

lowship, those received and those dismissed since the 
last meeting of this Association, and time and places 
of holding their respective annual meetings, together 
with a statistical report of their numerical strength. 

Art. 7. — No body shall be entitled to less than 
one member, and one for every two hundred mem- 
bers, and one for each fractional over one hundred 
members. 

Art. 8. — This Constitution may be altered or 
amended by a majority vote of any regular meeting, 
if the proposed amendment shall have been present- 
ed at the last preceding regular meeting and ap- 
proved by that body, and published in the Minutes, 
with notice that it will be acted upon at the next 
meeting. 

Art. 9. — Each session of the General Associa- 
tion shall determine the time and place of holding 
the next session. 



BY-LAWS. 



Article 1. — Each session of the General Asso- 
ciation shall be called to order by the Moderator, 
when present, and in his absence, by the member 
having seniority of years. 



384 EARLY HISTORY 

Art. 2. — Each session and adjourned sitting shall 
be opened and closed with prayer. 

Art. 3. — Ten members shall constitute a quorum, 
provided not less than three Associations are repre- 
sented, but a smaller number may adjourn from time 
to time. 

Art. 4. — After the opening of each session a 
committee shall be chosen to examine credentials. 
After the report of this committee, and enrollment 
of members present, the Association shall proceed to 
the election of a Moderator. 

Art. 5. — At each session such standing commit- 
tees may be appointed as the Association may deem 
proper. 

Art. 6. — It shall be the duty of the Clerk to fur- 
nish each session of the Association with a book of 
records, containing the doings of its previous meet- 
ings. 

Art. 7. — Anyone wishing to retire while the As- 
sociation is in session, shall first obtain leave of the 
presiding officer. No member shall absent himself 
from the Association during its session without first 
obtaining permission from the Association. 

Art. 8. — No person shall be allowed to speak 
more than ten minutes at any one time, nor more 
than twice on any subject, without leave of the Asso- 
ciation. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 385 

Art. 9. — It shall be the duty of the Association 
to appoint a committee of three, to be called the 
Central Board, whose duty it shall be to inaugurate 
and execute a general system of domestic Missions; 
they shall appoint such sub-committees, and employ 
such agents and missionaries as they may deem 
proper ; they shall hold their position until super- 
ceeded by a new appointment ; may fill all vacancies 
that occur in their own body, and shall make to this 
Association, at each regular session, a detailed re- 
port of their doings. 

Art. 10.— No debate shall be allowed on any 
motion except the same be in writing, and seconded 
by a member of the Association. 

Elder I. H. Henry, ^ Ch'm Com. 



Elder G. A. Gordon, 
Elder A. H. Polk, 
Elder F. M. Kerr, 
Elder W. L. Smart. 



Cl'k Com. 



A Central Board on Home Missions was appoint- 
ed, consisting of Elders A. H. Polk, I. H. Henry, 
and J. C. Gilliland, and a general correspondence 
opened up with all Liberal Baptists. 

At the third meeting the committee on creden. 



386 EARLY HISTORY 

tials reported the following list of delegates : Liberty- 
Association, Indiana, Elder A. H. Polk, G. W. 
Moore, T. M. Strain, F. M. Herr, Jacob Speer, 
Wilson Blackburn, Win. Clark and Bro. Daniel Mil- 
ler. Union Association, Elders Y. H. Henry, Miles 
Frasier, Absolom Pierce, M. J. H. Holland, L. W. 
Powell, E. T. Arnold, E. L. Kelsey. Mt. Olivet 
Association, Elders Wm. Carlisle, Silas Parker, J. 
W. Mcintosh. United Association, Eider J. G. 
Lane, Solomon Rhodes, Joshua McKenney, David 
Perkins, James Hart, R. Bullock and Bro. S. W. 
Parker. Ohio Association, Elders F. Holland, John 
Onyet, W. L. Smart, E. Oxford, J. Jack. Southern 
Illinois Association, Wm. Bradley, M. A. Shepard, 
G. A. Gordon, Jno. Griffin. Southern Kentucky 
Separate Baptists, Elder L. W. Whiles. Cumberland 
Association Free-Will Baptists, Tennessee, Elders 
Robert George, J. W. Gower, S. H. Lancoster, W. 
H. Head, G. R. Head. Shelby Association Separ- 
ate Baptists in Central Illinois, Elder Joseph Perry- 
man and Bro. C. H. Roney. Ohio State Associa- 
tion of Free Communion Baptists, Rev. S. D. Bates. 
In point of business talent and Ministerial qualifi- 
cations, this was one of the ablest representations 
that the General Association has ever had. Elders 
Joseph Perryman, S. Rhodes, John Onyet and Bro. 
Daniel Miller have been dead several years* Elders 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 387 

J. G. Lane and J. W. Mcintosh went to the M. E. 
Church, and subsequently Elder Lane went to the 
Missionary Baptists. Elder Kerr's credentials were 
revoked on account his efforts to pervert the ordi- 
nance of the church. The rest of these delegates 
so far as I know, are still faithful to the doctrine of 
the Liberal Baptists. 

Some confusion was brought about at this meeting 
on the subject of a union among Liberal Baptists, 
which has been fully detailed in the history of Lib- 
erty Association, Indiana, which was the cause of a 
majority of these men never meeting with the General 
Association again. At the fourth meeting held at 
Eldorado, Illinois, the union question or change of 
name was again considered in a rather confused and 
boisterous manner, and renewed again at the fifth 
meeting, held with Liberty Church, Vanderburgh 
county, Indiana, and again at the sixth meeting at 
Oakland City, Gibson county, Indiana, where abet- 
ter feeling existed among the brethren, and more 
christian courtesy has prevailed in the discussion of 
the union question ever since. It is hoped that good 
will come out of those discussions in the future, but 
it is very evident that they proved very disastrous to 
the General Baptists interest during the four or five 
years of so much ungarded and vehement contro- 
versy. However it has brought about a better ac- 



388 EARLY HISTORY 

quaintance among Liberal Baptists everywhere. We 
have learned the location and history of many of 
which we knew nothing before the organization of 
the General Association. 

At the meeting held at Oakland City, there was 
some important work done in regard to our educa- 
tional interest, but as I intend to devote a separate 
chapter to each of the subjects of Home Missions 
Publication and Education, I will pass this by for the 

present. 

At the seventh meeting held at Sebree City, Web- 
ster county, Kentucky, 1876, it was proposed to 
change the name of the General Association of Gen- 
eral Baptists, to the name of "Baptists General Asso- 
ciation." 

At the eighth meeting held with Mt. Gilead church 
Warrick county, Indiana, in 1877, the committee on 
policy or the General Association, reported unfavor- 
able to the change of name and suggested that the 
General Association confirm strictly to the doctrines 
of General Baptists for that they considered essential 
to the existence of the denomination. 

At the ninth meeting held at Liberty church, Van- 
derburgh county, Indiana, 1878, the Association re- 
solved that the great work of the General Associa- 
tion for the following ten years was the building up 
and maintaining three grand institutions, to-wit : The 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 389 

Publication, Home Mission and Educational interest. 
These resolutions have been adhered to ever since. 
The success attending these enterprises is shown in 
the chapters relating to these subjects. 

The tenth meeting held at Boonville, Warrick 
county, Indiana, 1879, was probably one of the most 
gloomy and discouraging in the history of this body. 
Only four Associations represented by delegates and 
lour by letter and only eleven representatives. Dr. 
Holman, who had anticipated a large delegation, was 
so disappointed and overwhelmed with grief, that he 
suggested, that the General Association be disorgan- 
ised. The writer believed that he could see indica- 
tions of success in the future, and one indication 
was that the very best of feeling prevailed through- 
out the entire session. At this meeting a course of 
study was recommended to those preparing for the 
ministry, which is as follows : First years course. 

The eight common school english branches with 
the addition of natural Philosophy and Rhetoric junior 
year. 

1. — Mental Phylosophy b} Haven. 

2. — Moral Phylosophy by Way land. 

3. — Evidences of Christianity by Hopkins. 

4. — Church history by Gregory Butler and Hass. 

5. — Homilitics by Shed. 

6. — Canon of the old and new Testement by 
Stewart. 

7. — Pastorial Theology by Shed and Pond. 



390 EARLY HISTORY 



THIRD YEAR: 

1. — Systematic Theology by Butler. 

2. — Dictionary of religious knowledge by Layman 
Abbot. 

3. — Commentary byFoucet, Jamison and Brown, 
(one work.) 

4. — History of the Bible by Kitto. 

5. — Logic by Javons. 

6. — Analogy by Butler. 

There was and perhaps may still be some misun- 
derstanding about this course. The General Asso- 
ciation did not desire to force this course upon any 
ordained or licenced Minister, but only wished to 
urge the necessity of all of our Ministers studying the 
course. It will do all of us good to read this whole 
course. 

Then it was designed to be a guide for all of our 
Ministers in search of such books. If the writer had 
known of such a course of study at the time he was 
licenced, it would have saved him many years of 
close application to other matter that did not materi- 
ally assist in his Theological studies. It is hoped that 
all of our Ministers and especially the young will ap- 
preciate this course and be benefitted by it. 

The eleventh meeting held with old Liberty church 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 391 

in Vanderburgh county, Indiana, 1880, was a pleas- 
ant and profitable one, eight Association was repre- 
sented by delegates. Elder Billy Harris gave an en- 
couraging report from Kentucky, Elder T. J. Davis 
brought refreshing news from Missouri and brought 
information of the existence of several Associations 

heretofore unknown to us. 

From 1870 to 1880 we hear of Bethany, Missouri, 
and an Association in Arkansas, date of organization 
not known. Social Band General Free-Will Bap- 
tists in 1875 in Missouri and Arkansas. Mt. Union 
Kentucky, in 1876 and Little Vine in Missouri and 
Arkansas in 1878, New Liberty in Missouri in 1880. 

The General Association at this meeting numbered 
12,367 members, a gain in ten years of 4367 mem- 
bers, a net gain of over 54 per cent. The minutes 
of this meeting show that the General Baptists are 
better organized than at any time since those early 
General Baptists in the New England States were 
merged into the close communion Baptists denomi- 
nation. 

The twelfth session was also held with Liberty 
church in November, 1881, and was one of the most 
interesting sessions of this body. There is a great 
work to be done in the next ten years, but we can 
not write for the future, still it is only reasonable to 
suppose that if the General Baptists work energetic- 
ally and harmoniously, that in 1890 their numbers 
may be swelled to 30 or 40 thousand. 

Home Missions see essay in minutes by D. B. 
Montgomery. 



392 



EARLY HISTORY 



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IN THE UNITED STATES. 393 



A DENOMINATIONAL PAPER. 

We have made mention of most of these enter- 
prises in the history of the Annual Associations. We 
will connect them as closely as we can. In the year 
1843 Liberty Association appointed a committee to 
take under consideration the advisability of publish- 
ing a denominational paper. You will remember that 
at this time we only had Liberty and Union Associa- 
tions and a little more than 1,000 members. This 
was just twenty years after the first church was or- 
ganized. The committee, after duly considering this 
question, reported unfavorable to the enterprise. 
However, two years after, in 1845, Elders Benoni 
Stinson and Wm. Reavis, jr. , engaged, as individu- 
als, in the publication of the Original General Baptist 
Herald, as a semi-monthly. This paper was receiv- 
ed with joy by the General Baptists and a committee 
appointed to take it under the direction of the de- 
nomination and to make its appearance as a weekly. 
After struggling hard to sustain it for some months, it 
was finally suspended. 

We hear no more of a General Baptist paper for 
25 



394 EARLY HISTORY 

fifteen years, or 1850, when the General Baptist Ban- 
ner was started, an account of which may be found 
in the history of the thirty-seventh meeting of Liber- 
ty Association. It, however, met with the same fate 
as the Original Herald. 

About twelve years after this, or July, 1872, Bro. 
Joshua McKenney, of Richland City, in Spencer 
county, Indiana, began the publication of the second 
General Baptist Herald, with Elder J. G. Lane as as- 
sociate editor. He continued to publish the paper 
at Richland for several months, when it was moved 
to Calhoun, Kentucky, and finally to Evansville, In- 
diana. Financial embarrassments caused Bro. Mc- 
Kenney to solicit the General Association to take 
charge of the Herald. Accordingly, in 1873, at the 
General Association, at Eldorado, Illinois, Elders 
J. G. Ensle, D. B. Montgomery, Bros. R. B. Rich- 
ards and Maj. J. B. Cox, were appointed to look after 

the interest of the Herald. 

It was found that a joint stock company was the 

only way to save the paper. As well as the writer 
remembers the following are the persons that made 
up the stock company and gave of their means to 
purchase and continue the paper: Elders J. G. 
Ensle, D. B. Montgomery, and Brothers] J. B. 
Cox, Daniel Miller, Henry Angel, Wm. Raglan, G. 
B. Young, Minor Young, Henry C. Daugherty, Wm. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 395 

Fairchilds and Henry Clark. This company took 
charge of the paper about the first of January, 1874, 
with Henry Angel, President, J. B. Cox. Secretary 
and Treasurer, and Elders J. G. Ensle and D. B. 
Montgomery, editors. These two continued to edit 
the paper together until about June, 1875, when, on 
account of business at home, Elder Ensle resigned 
and D. B. Montgomery edited the paper until Janu- 
ary, 1876, when the stock company suspended and 
sold the press and subscription to Col. John Cock- 
rum, of Oakland City, Indiana. The company then 
deducted five hundred dollars from the amount of 
sale, on condition that the unexpired time of sub- 
scribers be filled out by the new company. 

Under the management of Col. Cockrum, Elder 
J. G. Lane was made editor, except the few copies 
edited by Prof. Crawford. However, the first man- 
agers of this stock company were Col. J. W. Cock- 
rum, President; Rev. J. G. Lane, Secretary; Moses 
Smith, Esq., Treasurer; Prof. S. P. Crawford, Edi- 
tor and General Agent. Of Prof. Crawford, the 
General Baptists knew but little, before he became 
editor. He only edited a few copies and resigned 
and went East. We know nothing of him since. 

Elder Lane continued to edit the paper until after 
the death of Col. J. W. Cockrum, after which a new 
board of managers was elected, consisting of the 
-following brethren, at Boonville, Indiana : 



396 EARLY HISTORY 

T. J. Hargan, President; Rice Wilson, Secretary 
and Treasurer ; Branock Wilkerson, B. Fuller, Wm. 
Fisher, T. J. Downs, Col. W. Cockrum, of Oakland 
City, Indiana, Elder Willis Charles, of Mt. Vernon, 
Indiana, J. O. M. Selby, of Petersburg, Ind. 

This board elected T. J. Hargan editor, who con- 
tinued to edit the paper at Boonville, Indiana, until 
the General Baptist Herald was suspended. It has 
not made its appearance since. 

THE GOLDEN RULE. 

The prospectus of this paper appeared some time 
in May, 1879. The first number appeared on June 
5th, of the same year, which gave a guarantee 
that the paper would continue for six months, then 
for twelve months* The paper has been sent regu- 
larly ever since, with a few exceptions. This paper 
has been much appreciated by our people, that is, by 
those who have taken it. The General Baptists 
proper ought to take twelve hundred papers. This 
would be a very low estimate, not quite one paper to 
every twelve members. Then the other liberal Bap- 
tist in the West ought to take at least eight hundred 
papers, this, at two dollars per copy, would give our 
people an interesting paper. 

All of these papers have done good and the Gol- 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 397 

den Rule justily deserves the credit of being the best 
paper ever published by the General Baptists. From 
the consideration that the editor started under many 
embarrassments without means and a very limited ac- 
quaintance with the denomination, still he went to 
work with his own hands and brains and after a short 
time brought his brother J. P. Cox to be a partner. 
They not only gave us a good paper but have rallied 
many of the old supporters as well as quite a number 
of new ones, both for subscription and correspond- 
ents. The Golden Rule has probably done more to 
strengthen and organize the General Baptists, than 
all of the other papers, and has certainly brought 
about a much better acquaintance among the Liberal 
Baptists in the south and west. It is with pain and 
grief that the readers of this little paper learn that 
Elder J. E. Cox has decided to suspend the Golden 
Rule November 1st, 1882, simply because the sub- 
scription is not sufficient to justify a continuation of 
its publication. What will become of our publishing 
interest in the future, remains yet to be developed. 

The Golden Rule was first published at Evansville, 
Indiana, then moved to Mt. Vernon, Indiana, then 
to Evansville again, then to Enfield, Illinois, where 
it is at this time, January, 1882. 

The Christian Union was a General Baptist paper, 
published at Dexter City, Missouri by Elder C. B. 



398 EARLY HISTORY 

Hysom, the first number of which made its appear- 
ance April, 1880. This was a valuable little paper, 
something near the size of the Golden Rule and was 
well calculated to do much good, especially for our 
brethren in the west. But alas, it finally suspended 
and turned over its subscriptions to the Golden Rule 
which filled out the unexpired time of subscription. 
The Golden Rule suspended June 1st, and the Open 
Door appeared June 15th, 1882. 



GENERAL BAPTIST HYMN BOOKS. 

The first General Baptist Hymn Book was pub- 
lished by Elder H. A. Gregg in 1851. Elder Gregg 
is now very old and is well known by all the Asso- 
ciations in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. He now 
belongs to Union Association and was a delegate to 
to the General Association in 1881. This book was 
well received. It contained a good selection of 
hymns with many original ones, by Elder Gregg. 
We now find many of the old members preferring it 
to any other hymn book. I do not know how many 
editions were published, perhaps not more than one. 
The Cavanah book in 1858, another hymn book was 
compiled by Elder G. P. Cavanah, known as the 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 399 

General Baptist Hymn book. This book was very 
popular, probably not so much on account of the 
merits of the book, as the high esteem for its compi- 
ler. Though the book in itself was a good one. 
There has been several editions of this book. After 
Elder Cavanah's death the sterotype plates fell into 
the hands of the Evansville Journal Company, which 
supplied them for many years, or until about 1880. 
I need not speak further ^of Elder Cavanah at this time 
as his biography describes his standing among Gen- 
eral Baptists as well as other denominations. 



THE MANUEL OF PRAISE. 

The Journal Company ceased publishing the Ca- 
vanah book in 1879. Therefore at the General As- 
sociation in 1880, Elder J. E. Cox, Editor of the 
Golden Rule, presented the Manual of Praise, which 
was referred to the committee consisting of 

Elder Willis Charles of Mt. Olivet Association. 

Elder J. P. Joice of Ohio Association. 

Elder Wilson Blackburn of Liberty Association, 
Indiana. 

Elder A. C. West of Flat Creek Association. 

Elder David Perkins of United Association. 



400 EARLY HISTORY 

Elder T. J. Davis of New Liberty Association, 
Missouri. 

Elder Billy Harris of Mt. Union Association. 

Elder H. A. Gregg, author of the first Hymn Book, 
and Elder Dr. Jeff Holman of Union Association. 

The committee reported as follows : 

"We, the committee on Hymn books", having 
examined the "Manuel of Praise", find it in every 
respect suitable for a standard Hymn book for Gen- 
eral Baptists and recommend its adoption by the As- 
sociation. 

The different enterprises on Hymn books proved 
successful, except that none of them was very renu- 
merative to the publishers. Each one met the de- 
mand of the church at the time of publication. 



GENERAL BAPTISTS HISTORY. 

Where is the history of the General Baptists, is a 
question frequently asked. The answer to this ques- 
tion is that Mr. Adam Taylor wrote of the Ancient 
General Baptists in Europe and England, and Mr. 
Richard Wright in 1827 wrote a history of General 
Baptists in the United States. However both of 
these histories have been out of print for many years. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 401 

Many other histories, such as Ivimey, Crosby, Orch- 
ard, Crampp, Benedict, Backus, Wood and many 
others have written concerning General Baptists. 

With these facts before us it is astonishing that 
some modern historians know so little of the history 
of General Baptists. However the history of the 
General Baptists in the western part of the United 
States has never yet appeared before the public in 
book form. 

At the eighteenth meeting of Liberty Association 
in Indiana in 1841, that body resolved to take up a 
subscription for the purpose of publishing a General 
Baptist history. This enterprise did not succeed. 
In our opinion nothing could have aided our people 
so much at that time as the contemplated history, 
but at that time our people were few in number and 
poor in this worlds goods. Therefore the book was 
not published. 



THE LIFE OF ELDER BENONI STINSON. 

Sometime in the year of 1874, Capt. Wm, Reaves 
of Evansville, Indiana, whose early life had been 
among the General Baptists as one of their ablest 
Ministers. Commenced to write the "life of Benoni 



402 EARLY HISTORY 

Stinson, together with a short history of the General 
Baptist denomination, as organized by Elder Stin- 
son and others, to which was added short biograph- 
ical sketches of several other prominent Elders and 
Laymen, both in the General and Regular Baptist 
denomination". We have quoted quite freely from 
this work and many of our biographical sketches 
were written Elderlby Reavis. The first part of this 
work was published in a pamphlet of 27 pages in 
1876 and subsequently much of it appeared in the 
General Baptist Herald, and was highly appreciated 
by its readers. It is much regretted that this work 
was not published in book form as it would have 
proved of inestimable value as a future reference. 



DR. JEFF. HOLMANS HISTORY. 

In 1876 while Dr. Holman lived at Clayville, Ken- 
tucky, the General Baptists were being sorely pressed 
by the Close Communion Baptists. Brother Jeff. 
Holman who is a son of Elder Jacob Holman and 
now an ex-representative of the Kentucky Legisla- 
ture, was very popular among General Baptists, as 

well as highly esteemed among all religious bodies as 
a member of Clayville Church. Dr. Holman felt 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 403 

that grievous burdens were being heaped upon the 
General Baptists. Therefore he felt called upon to 
rise and defend their doctrines. 

In order to do this he delivered a lecture on 
church history, which was a valuable treat to his own 
denomination and highly commended by those who 
differed with him as being an excellent epitome of 
General Baptists history. A considerable part of 
this lecture appears in an introduction to my book. 
The merits of this lecture justly gives it a place 
among the standard works of General Baptists Liter- 
ature. We have made these statements in regard to 
the writings of these brethren, in order to show what 
has been done in the way of writing a history of the- 
General Baptists. 



HOME MISSIONS. 

The General Baptists have always been a mission- 
ary people, and through their self-sacrificing ministry 
a great deal of missionary work has been accomp- 
lished at a very early period Liberty Association be- 
gan to organize for mission work. As early as 1831 
at their eighth meeting they sent Elder Benoni Stin- 
son out as general missionary, who at their next 



404 EARLY HISTORY 

meeting made an encouraging report. Subsequently 
Elders Jacob Speer, Wm. Reavis and others fol- 
lowed in this work. The same kind of work has 
been done in all of the General Baptist Associations, 
sometimes adopting one plan and sometimes another. 
As has been detailed in the history of Liberty Asso- 
ciation, Indiana, some other Associations have en- 
deavored to build up permanent funds. The General 
Association is much interested at this time in a con- 
centrated effort of all General Baptists. Grand op- 
portunities are now opening up for our people. May 
God help them to consecrate of their means and 
plant churches in many of the waste places within their 
borders. It seems to us that the entire south west is 
rapidly taking hold of Liberal Baptists principles, 
General atonement and open communion must be 
the watch-word and, success will follow. 



EDUCATIONAL INTEREST. 

We now come to treat of our educational interest. 
Upon this enterprise it seems to us that all of our in- 
stitutions hinge, and upon this our future success 
depends. We have seen that our first effort in this 
direction was in 1837, when we endeavored to es. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 405 

tablish an Academy at Evansville, and subsequently 
another proposition of the same kind in 1857. 

In 1867 Col. J. W. Cockrum and others built Oak- 
land Institute at Oakland City, Gibson county, In- 
diana, which was intended to become a General Bap- 
tist College, and a considerable stock was taken for 
that purpose, but not enough to purchase it, so it re- 
mained in possession of the stockholders of whomCol. 
Cockrum and wite were the largest. 

Finally in 1875, while the General Association 

was in session at Oakland City, Col. Cockrum de- 
cided to donate his interest to the General Baptist 
denomination, and Col. Wm. Cockrum agreed to 
donate ten acres of Land for College ground. These 
donations were made on condition that the General 
Baptists endow the institution. Thus encouraged 
our people went to work in earnest and the endow- 
ment was increasing rapidly, when it was announced 
that Col. J. W. Cockrum and wife were dead. The 
papers were already made out, ready for signature 
just as soon as Col. Cockrum could secure a few 
small shares of stock in the possession of other par- 
ties. Alas, he was taken suddenly ill, became de- 
lirous and remained so until death relieved him. 

This disorganized the whole plan and the property 
fell back to Col. Cockrum's heirs. This would have 
been a great achievement for General Baptists, could 
it have been carried out. 



406 EARLY HISTORY 

The school at that time was self-sustaining. Prof. 
Lee Tomlin had built up a reputation for this school 
and students gathered here from many counties. 
Thus enthused, our people would soon have run the 
endowment up sufficiently to have carried on a school 
equal to the demands of the General Baptists at that 
time. 

Notwithstanding this loss and the preceding fail- 
ures, our people still wished for a college. Therefore 
at the General Association in 1878, while in session 
with old Liberty Church, Vanderburgh county, In- 
diana, a committee was appointed on the subject of 
education, which reported, "that we recognize the 
great deficiency in education among our people and 
especially among our ministry. Therefore resolved, 
that we recommend that a theological school be es- 
tablished as soon as possible, at some place that may 
be selected by this body, and further recommend 
that seven Trustees be appointed by this body, whose 
duty it shall be to consider the practicability and all 
necessary arrangements for the accomplishment of 
this object, whereupon Elders G. W. Moore, D. B. 
Montgomery, Willis Charles, Drs. T. J. Hargon and 
Jeff. Holman, Bro. J. O. M. Selby and May J. B. 
Cox were appointed as such Trustees. 

In 1879 the General Association met at Boonville, 
Indiana. At the reqeust of Elder G. W. Moore El. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 407 

der I. H. Henry was made Chairman of the Board of 
Trustees and Elder Moore relieved and Elder Wil- 
son Blackburn added. Elder Henry on account of 
poor health sent a letter to the Board of Trustees, 
thanking the General Association for the confidence 
reposed in him but declined to serve and suggested 
that some younger man take his place. Therefore 
Elder Willis Charles was elected Chairman of the 
Board and remains there at present. 

In 1880 this Board reported to the General Asso- 
ciation held with old Liberty Church, that they had 
organized a Board of Trustees under the laws of the 
State of Indiana, and adopted a constitution and by- 
laws, see constitution and by-laws, and had secured 
a deed to property in the City of Evansville, Indiana, 
valued at $15,000 and had secured endowments 
to the amount of $6,000. 

The Trustees continued to increase the endow- 
ment taking subscriptions to become binding when 
$50,000 shall have been subscribed. At the General 
Association in 1881, the Trustees reported additional 
endowments to the amount of $9,000 making in all 
$30,000. 

If the Citizens of Evansville give the proper en- 
couragement, the College will be located at Evans- 
ville. The Trustees expect to open school by Sep- 



408 EARLY HISTORY 

tember, 1882, and the prospects are favorable for a 
good attendance. 

The Officers at present are : 

Elder G. H. Ball, D. D. President of College. 

Elder Willis Charles, President of Board. 

G. B. Young, Treasurer. 

Other Trustees : J. B. Cox, D. B. Montgomery, 
Jeff. Holman, Syd. Ball. J. O. M. Selby, Brannoch 
Wilkerson. 




